Homemade Window Cleaner Recipe
1/2 cup ammonia
2 cups rubbing alcohol
water
1 tsp. dishwashing liquid
In a one-gallon container*, mix ammonia and rubbing alcohol. Fill almost to the top with water. Add dishwashing liquid and mix. Top off with water. Rated by Consumer Reports Magazine to work much better (and much cheaper) than most commercial window and kitchen sprays. Alcohol is the secret ingredient – it’s what commercial window washers use.
*Safe on most, but not all, household surfaces.
*You can use a washed out gallon milk carton and fill with a funnel or just half or quarter the recipe to fit in your spray bottle.
Photo By: Philip Wilson
The window cleaning recipe is tried and true for me as well.
As for the general cleaning solution, vinegar is acidic and ammonia is alkali. Adding the vinegar will neutralize the ammonia.
I believe a better recipe for a strong all-purpose cleaner comes from “Home Comforts” by Mendelson:
1 Tbsp ammonia
1 Tbsp liquid laundry detergent
1 pint water
OR
1/2 cup washing soda added to 1 gallon water
In the daycare area (diaper changing area and food prep area) I put plain alcohol into a spray bottle. I spray the area after a diaper change. It dries quickly. It is cheaper than Lysol spray. I have done this for years and I have not had any problems with the alcohol doing damage to the surface of my diaper changing area.
I also spray the food pre/serve area on my daycare. I let it dry. I believe this kills lots of germs that might be on the surface. The alcohol does a great job of keeping my stainless steel sink nice.
Roxie from Texas
Thanks for the “recipe”. I can’t wait to try this!
I too make my own window cleaner. here is my sure fire recipe. Works great.
1/2 bottle hydrogen peroxide
1/2 bottle rubbing alcohol
1 teaspoon dawn for dishes
Put this in a gallon jug and fill it the rest of the way up with water to make 1 gal.
Alcohol makes it dry quickly and the peroxide cleans it really well. No streaks.
This is the same recipe as in Dining on a Dime for those of you who have it to save you coping it. Thanks Linda
[...] use this recipe the most from my Dining on a Dime Cookbook.(affiliate [...]
[...] [...]