Simple homemade glass cleaner with warm water, white vinegar and neutral washing-up liquid

A homemade glass cleaner made with warm water, white vinegar and the smallest possible amount of neutral washing-up liquid helps lift grease, fingerprints and light mineral residue. To stop streaks on windows, mirrors and the shower screen, though, the cloth you use, how much you apply and how you dry the surface matter just as much as the mixture itself.

Why do vinegar and washing-up liquid help clean glass?

White vinegar contains acetic acid, which helps loosen marks left by water and light mineral deposits. Its acidity also makes it easier to remove residue that clings to the glass after raindrops dry or after splashes from the shower evaporate.

Neutral washing-up liquid targets the grease found in fingerprints, kitchen steam and body products that build up on the shower screen. A single drop is enough to support the cleaning action, because too much creates foam and can leave a film that shows up as a halo once the surface dries.

How do you make homemade glass cleaner in the right ratio?

You can mix the formula in a clean spray bottle, using equal parts warm water and vinegar. Make only what you’ll use straight away, rather than leaving the solution sitting in the container for long periods:

• Pour 250 ml of warm water into the bottle;
• Add 250 ml of white vinegar;
• Put in just one drop of neutral washing-up liquid;
• Close the bottle and combine the ingredients with gentle movements;
• Label the container and keep it out of children’s reach;
• Never mix the solution with bleach or other cleaners.

Why is the glass still streaky after cleaning?

Many streaks appear when the product dries before it has been properly spread and removed. This is common on sun-warmed windows, because the water and vinegar evaporate quickly and leave visible lines before the glass can be polished.

What you wipe with also affects the finish. Cotton cloths, worn flannels and kitchen roll can shed fibres, and using too much solution can leave the glass soaked. A clean microfibre cloth absorbs the mixture more effectively and helps minimise the residue that causes marks.

How do you use the mixture on windows, mirrors and the shower screen?

Before spraying anything on, remove dust and loose particles so you don’t drag grit across the surface. Apply a small amount of solution and wipe it off promptly, using a method suited to each area:

• On windows, wipe with microfibre, then finish with a squeegee from top to bottom;
• On mirrors, spray onto the cloth to avoid liquid pooling at the edges;
• On the shower screen, leave it to work for a few minutes on light mineral marks;
• Dry the squeegee blade after each pass;
• Use a separate dry cloth to buff corners and trims;
• Clean when the glass is cool and out of direct sunlight.

Proper drying finishes the job without streaks

Run the squeegee over the glass in continuous strips, starting at the top. Wiping the blade between passes stops dirty water being spread back across the surface, while a dry microfibre cloth removes droplets left along the edges and where the glass meets the frames.

This approach for leaving windows shiny works best with very little washing-up liquid, a restrained application and immediate polishing. Used on cool glass, the homemade glass cleaner combination removes grease and residue without leaving the film that causes halos after drying.