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REVISED AND UPDATED!
Here's a recipe for a glass/hard surface cleaner that will do the trick! First, a few warnings:
- NEVER ADD CHLORINE BLEACH TO THIS FORMULA! Chlorine will react to the other ingredients and release chlorine gas, which can kill you!
- Don’t mix in any other cleaning ingredients or commercial cleaners.
- Don’t bother to add vinegar. Acidic vinegar neutralizes basic ammonia. Vinegar got its reputation as a glass cleaner because it’s a good rinsing agent for streak-free results. You won’t need it for this recipe!
- Not for use on wood and porous surfaces.
- Use with caution on painted surfaces. Test in an inconspicuous area first.
- Never spray liquids directly on electronic equipment like TV's, monitors, scanners, etc.
- I refuse to accept responsibility for you not using common sense.
Now that you are properly chastened, here are the ingredients:
- A 1 Quart/liter spray bottle, either new or very clean.
- Distilled water. A gallon (4 liters) is less than a buck.
- Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. A pint (1/2 liter) is less than a buck.
- Household ammonia. A quart (liter) is less than a buck.
- Dishwashing liquid. If you don't have any already, you can buy a small bottle for around a buck, but think of all those clean dishes!
In that clean spray bottle, add, using a funnel:
- 2 ounces (60 ml) of Isopropyl alcohol.
- 1 ounce (30 ml) of ammonia to start. More about that below.
- Enough distilled water to fill the bottle most of the way up. Leave a bit of room to add more ammonia after you test this mix.
- Now add a scant drop of dishwashing liquid. Screw on the sprayer and shake the bottle over the sink.
- Spray the liquid a few times into the sink to prime the sprayer.
If you are still getting streaks, your paper towels may be to blame. Try using newsprint or splurge on all-cotton paper towels. Check around for all-cotton generic paper towels , if you can.
This isn't just for windows (or Macs). Try it on:
- Acrylic tubs and showers, bathroom fixtures. Amazing shine!
- Kitchen appliances, stoves (not sure about ovens - stick to oven cleaner), countertops (non-porous), lead crystal glass/chandeliers, hard plastic, linoleum - anything you'd use a name brand glass/hard surface cleaner on.
- Sprayed on a paper towel first, you can clean computer monitors (the whole thing, not just the screen), flatbed scanner glass, TV's, and other electronic stuff, but USE CAUTION! Unplug it or you run the risk of a fatal shock.
- Eyeglasses. I've had cheap, storebought glass cleaner ruin the coating on my polycarbonate eyeglass lenses. This formula has proven safe on both scratch resistant and coated lenses that reduce reflected light.
You just spent less than $5 (US) for more than a gallon of cleaner, and with another few gallons of distilled water, you should be good for a very long time.
Enjoy!
If you want your own, printable copy with additional tips, cautions, ideas and more, buy my auction booklet. You'll be able to view a picture of the original recipe I got from Uncle Howie, plus some background on the man that taught me how to DIY - Do It Yourself!
Guide created: 12/27/06 (updated 10/07/08)
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