Homemade Vinyl Window Cleaner

While there are a few commercially available cleaners that are safe to use with vinyl windows, you can save money by creating your own with only a few common household products. Keep your windows clean and looking like new by only using products proven to prevent damage to your vinyl windows.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is an all-natural and environmentally friendly product that is safe to use on vinyl windows. White vinegar makes quick work of removing any dried-on debris, and can help break through the waxy coating left behind by previously used commercially produced. White vinegar is also a natural deodorizer, and can remove pet, smoke or cooking odors from the inside of your windows.

Dish Soap

Dish soap leaves a streak-free shine on your windows, and helps remove any greasy buildup caused by pollutants in the air. Dish soap makes quick work of removing stuck-on debris, and prevents the need to scrub your windows excessively, which will prevent damage to the glass. Be sure the dish soap you use does not contain any bleach or chlorine additives, as these will cause the vinyl portions of your windows to dull prematurely.

Newspaper

Keep lint buildup and streaks on the surface of your windows to a minimum by using newspapers to clean them instead of rags or paper towels. Newspapers resist breaking down and are more environmentally friendly than using paper towels to do the job. If you are apprehensive about ink-buildup on your hands, use rubber gloves to prevent the ink from leaching onto your skin. The non-porous vinyl surfaces surrounding your windows are not susceptible to absorbing ink, which makes newspaper an acceptable choice when cleaning them.

Instructions

Prior to cleaning your windows, mix together ¼ cup vinegar, ½ tsp dish soap and 2 cups water in a spray bottle. Mix the contents together by shaking the bottle briskly and spray it onto the surface of your windows. Use a sponge to work any debris free from the surface and then squeegee the bulk of the remaining cleaner from the glass. Crumple a piece of newspaper and use it to dry the surface of the window to leave a streak-free shine.