Sunday, May 3, 2009

Can You See the Difference?

Why in the world am I posting a picture of the glass in my living room window, you ask? In my ongoing quest to limit the amount of junk that I buy that isn't at all helpful to anyone really, I'm experimenting with cleaning using low tech and old fashioned cleaning methods. One of the most common and approved of is the use of vinegar and water instead of glass cleaner. And my, oh my, it works!

Left is vinegar and water; Right is Windex


If you click the photo it should open up huge for you. Please, please ignore the rampant meadow that is my lawn, it is now cut. I promise! At any rate, like many people with dogs, I have a constant streak of nose marks across my window at Beagle nose level. It is gross and cloudy and snotty and even has little run marks when they are particularly excited and fling snot. In other words, I have window challenges.

While there is some reflective cloudiness on the windows, it isn't them but my camera work and you can take it from me, there was not one jot of difference between the two windows. And while I did notice an immediate vinegar smell when I sprayed the windows, it was gone by the time I was done. I think it must evaporate quite quickly.

The recipe is simple: 1 Part White Vinegar to 3 Parts Water. That's it.

7 comments:

Judy T said...

I've used vinegar and water for windows for a while. LOVE IT! We also make an all purpose cleaner for things other than glass by using the same vinegar/water mix and adding a bit (probably a teaspoon) of liquid dish detergent. We discovered during one of our children's "artistic phase" that it actually removes crayon from walls better than commercial products.
Judy

Anonymous said...

From your gleaming windows I love the view of your meadow. I would let it grow juat as much as allowed before getting a "must mow" sign posted on your lawm. I am assuming the vinegar and water does just as well for mirrors also. I have bought my last bottle of windex.

Love, Mom

Melissa ~ Mom to 6 said...

I use vinegar in my mop water similar to what Judy said ~ it works great! And, no our house doesn't smell like pickles! LOL

Unknown said...

A person can clean just about anything with vinegar, water and baking soda.

I can't help but wonder what my grandmother would think if she were here to see all the STUFF we buy and think we need. My grandfather sold vinegar out of a wooden barrel from his store nearly 100 years ago. People would bring glass jars from home and he would fill them. It was a major staple used for preserving food, cleaning and medicinal purposes.

I have a small book called, The Vinegar Book by Emily Thacker. It's really pretty interesting, it talks about what vinegar is, where it comes from, how it helps fight disease, and how it's used to preserve food and more. It's about 60 pages of vinegar talk.;D

Sometimes I clean my toilets with baking soda and vinegar. It's kinda fun.;D But honestly, we really don't need all those commercial cleaners, we too often are "foolish consumers," myself included.

My mom still makes lye soap, laundry soap, dish soap, lotion and linemint. She does not use furniture polish, she uses some kind of oil on a rag and she uses that same rag over and over before replacing it.

Today, manufacturers are trying to sell us "Green" cleaning products. Read the labels....the only thing "Green" are the manufacturers wallets!

Your windows look good, when your done I want you to come here and clean mine!!!!

Erin said...

Nice to see another suburban homesteader in my area! I have been making my own laundry soap and softener since October, and 1/2 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle completely erases the need for store bought softener, and cleans my H.E. machine at the same time. I blogged on it yesterday even! Vinegar is the wonder liquid!

Angie said...

I have always used water and vinegar for windows, cleaning the stove top and for getting sticker glue of glasses. Works great! Doesn't matter if it's white vinegar either, it can be any kind.

ATW said...

WOW Christy... I pulled up the pic and shooting from the hip, I asked my wife which glass does she thinks look clearer and she said with out hesitation the left one. Thats pretty good if you ask me. I guess I don't have to purchase windex anymore;)