We have pretty good luck with vinegar and water, unless the glass is really dirty. We have a lot of windows, and no window treatments, so we have to keep them clean. We use a good squeegee, but there is a learning curve to get it right.

Yes, as mushcreek says, you can make a great window cleaner from vinegar, water, and (optionally) a single drop of dish soap. I've never understood why people pay for windex and equivalents. Also, if you still get a newspaper, scrunched up newsprint is the best cleaning cloth to use with it.

a single drop of dish soap

that brought to mind my sister telling me that the guy who does her windows uses a drop of Dawn... she didn't say what else tho.

thx to both of you for your responses. do either of you know the ratio of vinegar to water? or close amount anyway? a TBSP or so of vinegar? if not, I can probably find that online.

I really need to clean up my windshield - when the az sun hits it, it's a mess!

For our shower doors I use : https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AZJ6RilvpMKjBQx9AkSGXQtkbUKtRiF4Xw7QsMFy3dCN0MkcSLOk-ug/

Oh I also use it for outside windows. If I do use newspapers to dry I wear rubber gloves as my skin just absorbs the ink from them.

vinegar and water with newspaper or a microfiber cloth. I do keep wiindex for touchoups but for serious, streak-free cleaning. vinegar. The streaking is made by the excessive amount of soap in the glass cleaning product. The cheaper the brand, the more soap and the more streaking. There will be a vinegar smell for a few minutes but it will dissipate quickly

I read recently that newspapers don't work as well as they used to because of a change in ink. But I still use them.

Yes, that's true, string weaver. But they are still better than anything else.

As for the vinegar/water ratio, I use a little less than a quarter cup of vinegar to enough water to fill a large windex bottle, but the white vinegar I buy is a local store brand that is quite weak.

thx everyone! I did then find this (below) online at this site - link　

I looked at another site and it was much the same. they also did say that newspaper wasn't as good anymore because of the ink and the fiber (which now can scratch the glass).

it also said that vinegar can harm marble. something to be careful with...

I have no idea of the strength of the vinegar I buy. I know I have an empty spray bottle or 2 around here, will find and make some up to give it a try.

probably w/out the cornstarch 'cause I don't have any of that. or the oil.

there are good sites out there with non chemical cleaning for many things including the oven. will have to check that one out too.

Shades - couldn't get to the site you posted 'cause I don't remember my facebook password.

wb - your ratio of vinegar to water looks about the same. unless of course, you have a gigantic bottle!

Homemade Window Cleaner

Ingredients

1/4 cup white vinegar (apple cider vinegar will work as well)
1/4 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
1 Tbsp cornstarch (the cornstarch reduces streaking — anyone know why?)
2 cups water
8-10 drops essential oil of choice (optional. Lemon, orange, or another citrus would be my choice here, but lavender or others would be nice as well.)

Method

1. Combine everything in a spray bottle (You can reuse the container you already have from your store bought glass cleaner. I had to buy one at a dollar store since we haven’t used glass cleaner in years :-)!)

2. Shake well to mix.

3. Spray onto glass surface and wipe clean.

TIPS & NOTES:

– Shake well before using since the cornstarch might clog up your spray nozzle otherwise.

I was researching how to clean a solid maple dining table we just bought at an estate sale, and found this same result - to use vinegar mixed in water, with a drop of dish soap. I have not tried it yet - does anyone know if this will work on wood? The table (and chairs) are from the 1950s and are in good shape, I just would like to make sure they are sanitary before we start using them but I don't want to harm the finish.

I don't know but if it works and doesn't harm the finish, let me know. I have a few pieces from the early 1900s that are really, really dirty and not sure how to clean them... I'm afraid to try to wipe/rub the dirt off. figured I'd flip a microfiber duster over it a few times and see how much flies away...

Thanks desertsteph and writersblock. The table has three leaves, so I tested a mixture of 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 2 cups water and a drop of dish soap on one of them. I just wiped it quickly and dried it. It didn't seem to cause any reaction to the finish and did pick up the light coating of dust that was on it. So that might be my answer. Desertsteph I'm not sure how the vinegar mixture would work on your pieces of furniture if they have a lot of dirt and might have a different finish.

I know we are no longer supposed to use "paper towels" when cleaning glass with Windex. I actually called the Windex company several years ago to complain about the streaky glass when trying to clean my windows.

The customer service rep asked what toweling I was using. I mentioned the "thicker, more absorbent" brand. She said that was the problem. Any towel that is "thicker, more absorbent" has an oil added to the pulp. The oil in the paper towel was causing the problem. She suggested I use the roughest, cheapest paper towels possible. That fixed the problem.

When I'm "cleaning" my windows (as opposed to just wiping dog sneezes off of them) I use a bucket with hot water, a good dose of white vinegar (2-3 cups?), and a squirt of dish washing soap to scrub the glass.

I use a rough cotton cloth, or rough paper towels, and for some stubborn bird spots on the outside I gently use a green nylon scrubby. I wash the windows, dump that water, and then rince them with just hot water and vinegar and fresh cotton cloths. When that's dry I use soft cotton cleaning rags and Windex to do the final polishing. They look so nice afterward. An hour later the inside glass will have new doggie nose prints on them.

For my weekly Friday glass cleaning, I just use Windex and cotton cloths to get the dog prints off of the inside glass. Any prints that show up from this cleaning to next Friday simply stay there. I'm not cleaning windows daily.

"use the roughest, cheapest paper towels possible"

i'll have to pick up a roll like that at W next trip there. I did use my regular brand of PT to clean my windshield (I confess I initially only cleaned the driver's side of it). but it was awesomely clean! I could see!

I do plan to clean all of the windows with the water/vinegar mixture. I've noticed this week that the armrests (everything really) is coated with a layer (or 2) of desert dust (dirt). I need to clean it all down. before summer hits in full force I also want to clean the carpet area in the back and the seats with my carpet cleaner. it's a wagon so a large back area that's really, really dirty. I can't reach that far into it or climb into it to reach it all, so i'll need Jed's help - like his much longer arms.

for now i'll be content to have clean windows, armrests etc. thx to all for your input. I've noticed a ton of doggie nose prints on my patio door also - my girl likes to watch for Mr Bunny and then bark like crazy to scare him to death... will try this mixture on that also and give her a clean running start for the next week of stalking him.

My boys appreciate a clear view, too. Just for laughs I'll post a Before and After dog slime photo tomorrow.