You may have tried to use vinegar to clean glass in the past and had poor results. Commercial window cleaners will leave a very fine wax residue, a cleaning mixture of vinegar and water alone will often result in streaky windows.
Mix one part distilled vinegar to 10 parts warm water in a spray bottle. Wipe down the window with a a soft, clean, lint-free microfiber cloth or paper towel to remove dust before you spray your solution, then spray the entire surface.
The plastic and glass surfaces on most small kitchen appliances, such as blenders, coffee makers, and toasters, are safe to clean with vinegar, but you want to avoid any rubber parts or metal that vinegar can corrode. This includes stainless steel.
Whether you are out of name brand glass cleaner or you want to use a more natural cleaner, vinegar works wonders on windows. Try a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for a streak-free clean. You can use a spray bottle or dip a rag in the solution, just like you would an ordinary cleaner.
Important: Vinegar is safe to use on windows and mirrors, but it can damage other materials due to acidity. Never use a vinegar cleaning solution on electronics (including on their glass screens). Don't use vinegar on granite or marble countertops or stone tile; instead, opt for a gentle Castile soap.
Then fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and completely saturate the glass. Allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes—longer if there's serious buildup. Next, dip a scrubbing sponge into baking soda and scrub the glass.
Mix one part vinegar with two parts distilled water in an empty spray bottle and shake well. (If you prefer a store-bought cleaner, be sure to check out these suggestions.) Spray the surface of the shower door with the solution and let it work its magic for 10 minutes. Use a microfiber sponge to wipe away the grime.
Choose lint-free
Microfiber or other lint-free towels won't leave behind little specks on glass surfaces. Newspaper or old, clean cotton diapers are other great options.
Another glass-cleaning recipe calls for 1 cup (236 milliliters) of water mixed with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 tablespoon of vinegar (rubbing alcohol also prevents glass streaks) [source: Aguirre]. Similar to standard cleaners, vinegar water comes with its own aroma.
Vinegar doesn't sanitize or disinfect
Some limitations are that vinegar doesn't disinfect MRSA, STAPH and other nasty germs that can make your family sick. Vinegar DIY cleaners can leave behind as much as 20% of the germs that make families sick because it's not potent enough to kill all of them.
Vinegar is excellent for cleaning glass for two reasons: it can dissolve grime and won't leave residue behind! Additionally, vinegar is a safe and eco-friendly product! Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a clean spraying bottle. Then, mist the solution on the glass surface.
Cleaning a mirror with vinegar might seem like a good idea – after all it's great for cleaning windows and any glass when you're cleaning a front door. Don't do it, though. The vinegar can penetrate through to the mirror's backing – which is what makes it shine.
Leave the object in vinegar and water overnight to loosen calcium deposits, rinse with water and dry with a microfiber towel.
If you have smeared windows when you're finished cleaning, you've left cleaning solution, soap, or minerals behind. Whether you have white residue on windows or another blemish, the solution is the same. Clean faster, use cleaner water, and wipe away all your solution, so nothing is left behind.
The most common is a water-fed pole cleaner mounted on an extendable pole for easy access to exterior windows. This setup requires significant investment into tools and training but makes cleaning high windows simple. The next most common option is a pair of squeegee and scrubber tools mounted on poles.
Spray a stronger mix of 1:1 water and vinegar (or Windex, or glass cleaner) at your window, so that the solution covers most of the glass. (I found Windex to work better, but if you have pets—or kids—who frequently lick outdoor windows, vinegar may be the best route for you.)
This has to do with the evaporation rate—if your cleaning solution evaporates before you have time to wipe it off, it will leave a mark. Alcohol- and ammonia-based cleaners evaporate more quickly than vinegar, but any window cleaner can leave streaks if it isn't removed fast enough.
Buff It Out
You can buff out those streaks by taking a dry cloth and swiping it over them. You'll find that they'll disappear quickly when you use light, fast strokes over the span of the table, mirror, or window.
Inside an empty spray bottle, mix one-part white vinegar and one-part clean water. Spray the solution onto the glass and wipe thoroughly with a paper towel for that perfect, shiny finish.
Use vinegar
Mix two tablespoons of white vinegar to one cup of water and, either using a spray bottle or a paper towel, apply the solution to the glass. The acid within the vinegar will break down any cloudiness. It will also give a more sparkling finish to the glass.
Mix up your window-cleaning solution: In a plastic spray bottle, mix together 2 cups of warm water with 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn. Sweep away dirt: Using a broom, sweep away the cobwebs and debris from the windows and sills.
“Set time,” or the time a disinfectant must rest on a surface in order to work effectively, is also important. The set time for vinegar can be up to 30 minutes.