Five Eco-Friendly Window Cleaning Tips

What do I know about eco-friendly window cleaning? When we moved into our home, the windows were covered in bird droppings. It's a good thing my Mom passed on all her window cleaning knowledge. Otherwise, we might be forced to hire a professional. Yes, it was that bad. Our neighborhood birds put on a lovely musical every morning. Peacefully co-existing with the birds is important to us. We'd rather use environmentally sound products. Unfortunately, prolific birds also means aggressive window cleaning. What's a homeowner to do?

How do you get rid of tree sap when cleaning windows? Is your method eco-friendly? You've rubbed, scrubbed and scoured. You've done some things to your windows that should never be done. Still, that sticky, gunky tree sap is going nowhere. Try a little lemon juice or organic orange cleaner. The citrus dissolves the sap quickly. Follow with your regular window cleaning product.

What is your regular window cleaning product? If it comes in a bottle with a label, it's likely not kind to the environment, regardless of what that label says. Vinegar is the cheapest and most eco-friendly window cleaner you can buy. Just pour 1/4 cup into a spray bottle, fill with water and use as you would any window cleaner. You can do the same thing with ammonia, but vinegar is more environmentally friendly and not as soapy.

Rubbing alcohol inhibits window cleaning streaks. You can add a teaspoon to your favorite window cleaner, even if it's homemade. Rubbing alcohol is a green window cleaning supplement, compatible with both vinegar and ammonia. In fact, it's an ingredient in most commercial window cleaners. Rubbing alcohol also keeps windows from fogging up.

Want the shiniest most eco-friendly windows in town? Don't use paper towels for window cleaning. Try a crumbled up newspaper with your vinegar solution instead. The texture is rougher, but something in the ink gives windows a beautiful shine. Of course, there's an environmental benefit to this technique. What a great way to re-use your old newspaper! When you're done, dry the newspaper out and use it as weed block. The vinegar is an added green weed deterrent.

Here's a little known green window cleaning tip. Have you tried oiling your windows? After you clean your windows with eco-friendly vinegar, let them dry. Rub them with olive or vegetable oil using your crumbled newspaper. What does this do? It keeps bird droppings and tree sap from sticking to make window cleaning easier next time.

More from this contributor:

Five Tips for No-Fuss Home Landscaping

Five Strange Things You Can Clean in the Dishwasher

Conserve Energy in a Drafty Old House in Winter

Source:

Personal experience