Reader Peter Casey shares his tip for streak-free windows, passed down from his DIY-loving grandfather.
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My grandfather's house always had the clearest windows I had ever seen. One year, to learn his secret, I came over to help with some spring-cleaning chores. Being a do-it-yourself sort of fellow, he didn't use a single paper towel or commercial cleaning product to clean. Instead, he mixed 2 cups of hot water with 1/4 cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of
cornstarch.
"The vinegar gets anything off the window," he beamed, proud of his homemade window cleaner. "But it's that little bit of cornstarch that really gives it the shine!"
After shaking the solution up in a spray bottle and spritzing the windows, we wiped them down with crumpled newspaper. Unlike paper or cloth towels, newspaper is absorbent without leaving lint behind. Those windows sparkled in spectacular fashion!
From that day on, I have used this method to clean the windows in my own home. It works like nothing else and keeps my windows shined to perfection.
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
Which vinegar do you use??? Cider...???Clear...??? Bad article !!!
Replyyou always use white vingar the clear kind when using it to clean with hope this helps:)
I used to use vinegar and newspapers too until our local newspaper companies changed their ink so that the ink ended up rubbing off all over the windows... Haven't tried newspaper since. Instead I cut up old cotton blouses and use and reuse them.
Marcy
OMG ! My mom used vinegar and newspaper when I was growing up (30 yrs ago) - it was the cheapiest and best! Thanks for the reminder I am going to use it!
Reply