How to Make Your Own "Green" Window Cleaner

Cleaning your windows and patio doors doesn’t have to be a chore, and it doesn’t have to mean using nasty, toxic chemicals.

Try our recipe for an easy-to-make glass cleaner that is as gentle on the environment as it is on windows and doors. All you need are a few common household items to get started and make your windows sparkle like new. Best of all, it only costs pennies!

Making your own home cleaning products not only saves money, it is environmentally friendly and safer. Household detergents and cleaning products are among the 2.5 million annual calls to U.S. poison control centers, according to the National Institutes of Health. Opting for chemical-free cleaners that can easily be made at home helps avoid the watery eyes and headaches many people experience with some store-bought cleaners.

When it comes to cleaning windows, there’s no substitute for old-fashioned elbow grease.

The Recipe

1. Mix one teaspoon of baby shampoo to one gallon of water or 1 1/2 cups of vinegar to one gallon of water.
2. Wash with the solution using a clean, soft cloth or sponge.
3. Rinse with clean water. Avoid pressurized sprayers that can break seals.
4. Promptly dry glass surfaces thoroughly with a cloth.
5. Dry window frames and door surfaces with a separate cloth.

Here are some more tips to help with your spring cleaning.

Tips

• Cloudy & Dry: JELD-WEN experts say a dry, overcast day is ideal for washing glass. That’s because intense sunlight can cause streaks as the cleaning solution may dry too quickly.
• Cleaning exterior finishes: Mild soap and water and a soft sponge or cloth is the simplest and safest way to clean exterior finishes like wood, metal-clad surfaces, vinyl, plastic and brass. Always rinse and wipe dry immediately after cleaning.
• Removing stubborn labels on glass: Soak the label with soapy water and remove with a plastic putty knife.
• Removing dried paint on glass: Soak paint with a warm water and baby shampoo solution. Wipe with a soft cloth or plastic putty knife, if needed.
• Cleaning insect screens: Remove screens and place them into a tub or shower stall if indoors, or on a hard surface outdoors.  Gently spray the screen with water. Brush lightly with a soft bristle tool until clean. For stubborn dirt, a mild soap and water solution can be used. Rinse clean and replace the screen when dry.

For homeowners who want to make window cleaning and low maintenance even easier, JELD-WEN offers a number of new and innovative options.  

Maintenance Made Easy

• Phantom Screens® – Custom Wood windows are available with retractable Phantom Screens built right into the window that retract out of sight when not in use. Phantom Screens can reduce the need to clean screens as frequently because they can be tucked away and protected from dust and dirt when not in use.
• Neat® Glass – For an extra hand when it comes to cleaning, JELD-WEN also offers Neat glass as an option for its Custom Wood and Tradition Plus windows and patio doors. Neat glass features a layer of titanium dioxide that reacts with the sun’s UV rays (even on cloudy days) to break down and loosen dirt. This allows rainwater to easily rinse away grime. A thin layer of silicon dioxide lets water disperse evenly and evaporate quickly, which greatly reduces spots.