Windows tend to get really dusty in autumn, as the rainier days lead to more condensation building up on the glass, which can trap dust, pollen, and even leaves carried by the wind. While many people clean their windows with soapy water, this method is often ineffective against dirt stains baked on by the sun, and it can also leave unsightly streaks on the glass.
However, Lyndsay, a cleaning expert and founder of A Little Hint of This has shared keeping your windows and glass doors clean is very easy as long as you add cornstarch to your cleaning solution. She said: “Glass is not perfectly smooth. Cornstarch helps keep water spots and streaks from forming in crevices. It is also a mild abrasive and can clean off microscopic dirt.”
Cornstarch is the key to stopping streaks as it is a thickening agent, which helps stop water droplets forming on the window and help the moisture spread more evenly.
This means that moisture cannot form together on the glass, which helps stop streaks from being able to form.
It is also useful to use white vinegar to clean windows as it is natural but very acidic substance, so can break up any tough grime like hard water spots or hard stains without much effort.
Rubbing alcohol should also be used as it is a degreaser, which means it can quickly break down any oily smudges or fingerprints on glass.
What fantastic about these ingredients is that they are cheap, eco-friendly and evaporate very quickly, so will not cause any streaks if you use them to clean a window.
How to clean a window properly
You will need:
- 60ml of white vinegar
- 60ml of rubbing alcohol
- 15g of cornstarch (around two tablespoons)
- 475ml of warm water
Method:
To clean a window, you will need a empty spray bottle. You can usually buy them in the gardening section of supermarkets but they can also be bought at pound shops or hardware stored.
Pour the one part white vinegar, one part rubbing alcohol and two parts warm water into the spray bottle, Slowly add your cornstarch, then screw on the lid and give the spray bottle a shake.
Make sure to give the spray a good shake each time you use it as the cornstarch will settle at the bottom of the bottle. Then, simply spray a generous amount on the window glass.
Wipe the solution off with a microfibre cloth, and once the glass dries, your windows should be clean and streak-free.