Ammonia and cleaning glass

[panthera]

OK, here's one for the experts around here.

I find the newspaper trick no longer works on window glass. Ammonia, obviously, does.

What is the ideal mixture to get drinking glasses and window glass 'squeaky' clean?

Not that I am keen on cleaning, just, sometimes it can't be avoided.

 

[danemodsandy]

What's Wrong...

...with Windex and its dollar-store clones? Works for me.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Plain ole blue Dawn just a squirt in a bucket. Wring out a rag and wash yer winddys. Use your newspaper to polish the glass free of streaks, perfect without fumes.

 

[veroroger]

try vinegar or peroxide

I've been told to use 1 cup of ammonia per gallon of water for this but have never tried it.

However, I've found that 1 cup of vinegar to a gallon of water with just a few drops of diswashing liquid added to the spray bottle works wonders. Also, a 50/50 mix of peroxide (the brown bottle that's 2 for $1.00 at any dollar store) and water is also great.

And, newspapers are always better for wiping windows than paper towels. Recycling and streak free every time!

Roger

 

[panthera]

Sorry,

but the newsprint rubs off onto the glass and the frame. I used to use newspapers, something has changed.

There is nothing wrong with Windex except that I want to save money on such things.

I like Roger's tip, I'll try it, thanks!

 

[vintagesearch]

i use water a a little bit of vinegar it really does work im going to stick to that!

 

[iheartmaytag]

Panthera,
Maybe your newspaper has switched print, or ink lately. I was told the reason the paper works so well is because the ink fades every so slightly and helps fill inperfections in the glass giving you a shinny window.

The Dawn that I mentioned cuts all the crap and no streaks if you don't mix it too strong.

 

[aamassther]

Try using a micro fibre cloth specifically for glass. You can use it with plain water or about a 1/4 cup of ammonia in a bucket of water. Though I've found I don't need it. I use a couple of drops of Shaklee's Basic H in a spayer and clean it with the microfibre cloth. You don't even need to worry if the glass is perfectly dry, it will still be streak free. But wring the cloth out often.
HTH, Todd

 

[ronhic]

Well...

...I avoid washing windows when I can and tend to get a cheap windex type cleaner if I have to...I have to say that I have had great success with both Lidl and Aldi cleaners especially when we had disgustingly filthy windows in the UK (previous owners were smokers) nothing cut the nicotine and tar like Lidls Orange or Peach spray....

BUT...my mother uses Methylated Spirits in water...a cup to a gallon should work....and then buffs with newspaper

 

[veg-o-matic]

Another vote for the microfiber cloth. You can use pretty much any kind of window cleaner with it, even the cheap stuff, and your windows will be the envy of the neighborhood!

veg

 

[sudsmaster]

You don't even need any liquid for a microfiber cloth to clean glass.

I keep a microfiber towel in my glove compartment. It's the only thing that really gets rid of that film/haze that forms on the inside of the windshield. And I use it dry.

 

[panthera]

I tried microfiber

wow.

Thanks. I will use it with a wetting agent, I'm afraid of using it dry. Not because of the fibers, but because I am afraid the water soluble grit might scratch.

Thanks a million, folks. That works!

 

[jeffg]

Polyester cloths are wonderful. When laundering, wash them by themselves or with other synthetics. If you mix them with cottons, you'll have a major lint mess on your hands. I discovered this the hard way..

 

[retro-man]

Since the backside of my house is mostly glass I have tried to find the fastest, cheapest and the best results from cleaning windows and doors. I went to home depot and bought a sponge on a stick. Actually it looks like a squeegee? with a fuzzy sweater on. I use a squirt of polmolive in a bucket of warm water. Dip this in and run across the glass a few times. Then I use a rubber squeegee? on a pole and wipe the glass once across the top then down for the rest. Keep a towel in hand for a quick wipe on the rubber and another on the floor to catch the drips. I do 6 sets of sliders downstairs in less than a half hour on the inside. This also works great on large mirrors.
Jon

 

[whirlcool]

We mix together warm water, a squirt of Dawn, some sudsy Ammonia alsong with some vinegar together in a bucket. We use the garden hose to spray down the windows and wash them with a microfiber cloth and use a squeege to clean off the windows after rinsing with the garden hose. If there is any moisture on the glas after that we wipe it dry with a dry microfibre cloth. It give us perfectly shiny streak free glass in no time at all.

On inside windows we use very hot water with vinegar in the water. This is great at removing dog nose prints from the glass too. We use a microfiber cloth to dry them.