A simple guide to cleaning windows, blinds, and window sills in your home using budget-friendly, non-toxic and natural homemade cleaners.
I must admit that cleaning windows is one of the cleaning tasks that I regularly neglected in my home when the kids were younger. It was a hopeless cause to want to have sparkling clean windows when there were curious little fingers around. Purely for my own sanity I stopped worrying about having perfectly clean windows inside, but when they were clean they looked so good! I recently installed new plantation shutters in my bedroom, you can see my DIY project here, and it was a great excuse to get in and give my windows a good clean. Here’s my tips for how to get gorgeously streak-free windows without using chemicals or nasty toxins.
How Often To Clean The Windows
I don’t spend too much time cleaning my windows. Instead of adding window clean to my weekly cleaning routine I do it while talking on the phone as I find it hard to sit still, or when I’m waiting for dinner to finish cooking (if it’s still daylight, so I can see the marks on the windows). This is how often I clean particular windows:
- high traffic areas ie. living room sliding doors – regularly when I have time – 1-2 weeks
- kitchen – 2-4 weeks
- living areas – 3-4 months (seasonally)
- bedrooms – 3-4 months (seasonally)
- all other areas – 6-12 months
KOALA ECO GLASS CLEANER
This Australian Peppermint Oil Glass Cleaner by Koala Eco cuts through film and polishes windows, glass doors and mirrors to smear-free perfection while discouraging dust from re-settling. The 100 % biodegradable and eco-friendly plant derived formula effortlessly cleans, removes bacteria and deodorises, without the need for toxic chemicals.
Homemade Window Cleaning Spray
I don’t use anything fancy to clean my windows, just a simple homemade window cleaning spray I make using an ingredient you’ll probably already have in your pantry – plus it’s budget-friendly and chemical-free too! All you’ll need is…
SPRAY BOTTLE – these can be found at chemists, hairdresser supply shops, Kmart or most grocery stores.
VINEGAR – with non-toxic and anti-bacterial properties, vinegar is beneficial for safely killing germs on surfaces. The acidic composition of vinegar acts quickly to break down the kind of film that frequently accumulates on glass surfaces too.
LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL – lemon is a powerful cleansing agent that purifies the air and surfaces and can be used as a non-toxic cleaner throughout the home. This ingredient is optional, I have just started putting it in my water/vinegar solution for my windows to also deter creepy crawly insects. You can purchase lemon essential oil direct from The Organised Housewife shop here.
I also like to use this Kitchen Cleaner to remove built-in grime that’s built up around the window sills.
How To Clean Windows
Description
Natural, chemical free, inexpensive window cleaner.
Instructions
- Pour water, vinegar and lemon essential oil into spray bottle.
- Shake bottle to combine.
- Spray window cleaner onto window and wipe over using a dry microfiber cloth to remove all fingerprints and pick up dust and dirt.
HOW TO CLEAN WINDOW TRACKS
If you have more time available you could clean your window tracks too. You could use an old toothbrush to loosen the dirt in the tracks, however I like to use this Track Cleaning Brush because it gets right in there and picks up a lot of the dust as it goes.
Then using the crevice tool nozzle attachment on the vacuum pick up all the loose dirt and dust.
HOW TO CLEAN BLINDS AND SHUTTERS
I recently installed shutters in my bedroom (you can see my DIY plantation shutter project here, and am loving how easy they are to dust and clean with this trendy Mini Blind Duster.
