Reader Tip: Natural Window-Cleaning Solution - Reader Peter Casey shares his tip for streak-free windows, passed down from his DIY-loving grandfather. My grandfather's house always had the clearest windows I had ever seen. One year, to learn his secret, I came over to help with some spring-cleaning chores. Being a do-it-yourself sort of fellow, he didn't use a single paper towel or commercial cleaning product to clean. Instead, he mixed 2 cups of hot water with 1/4 cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of cornstarch. "The vinegar gets anything off the window," he beamed, proud of his homemade window cleaner. "But it's that little bit of cornstarch that really gives it the shine!" After shaking the solution up in a spray bottle and spritzing the windows, we wiped them down with crumpled newspaper. Unlike paper or cloth towels, newspaper is absorbent without leaving lint behind. Those windows sparkled in spectacular fashion! From that day on, I have used this method to clean the windows in my own home. It works like nothing else and keeps my windows shined to perfection.
Corn starch, cornstarch, cornflour or maize starch is the starch of the corn (maize) grain obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel. Thomas Kingsford is credited to have been the inventor of corn starch in the 1840, while he was working as the superintendent of a wheat starch factory in Jersey City, New Jersey. Until 1850, corn starch was used primarily for starching laundry and industrial uses. Corn starch is used as a thickening agent in soups and liquid-based foods, such as sauces, gravies and custard. It is sometimes preferred over flour because it forms a translucent mixture, rather than an opaque one. As the starch is heated, the molecular chains unravel, allowing them to collide with other starch chains to form a mesh, thickening the liquid. It is usually included as an anti-caking agent in powdered sugar (10X or confectioner's sugar). For this reason, recipes calling for powdered sugar often call for at least light cooking to remove the raw corn starch taste. Baby powder often uses cornstarch.
Ingredients: 1 part vinegar - 1 part alcohol - 1 part water
Directions: Combine in a spray bottle. This can be used on windows, mirrors, appliances, faucets, etc. I find that it works better (read: less streaking) than store bought.
RE: Homemade Glass and Window CleanersBy Steve Miller (Guest Post): As a professional window cleaner for over 30 years, let me tell you from experience and experimentation; Newspapers or vinegar are NOT the best choices for home made window cleaning solution. I've tried them all extensively.
Most window cleaners use a few drops of dawn or joy dish washing soap in a bucket of water. If you want to us as a spray, add some Alcohol, rubbing alcohol works but is not the best choice. for Window shield washer fluid add more alcohol- to prevent freezing, not an issue if you don't have freezing weather.
It's not the chemical that produces the streak-free clean window it's the training, practice, skill & techniques of the professional that make the difference. Professional tools also help. But why waste your hard-earned free time cleaning windows? It's easy to hire a pro... just look up Window Cleaners in the YP or Google "Wndow Cleaners (+your location"and spend that free time doing something you enjoy!
