While searching for a recipe for a home-made glass cleaner, I discovered there is a very basic formula: Water and vinegar with liquid soap optional. The quantities of each change depending on recipe, and the liquid soap can apparently be dish soap or laundry detergent, but a basic pattern has emerged. Start with 2 cups of water, add 3-4 tablespoons (the measure, not the flatware!), then add a dash of liquid soap.
Of course, there are several deviations from this routine. While Martha Stewart uses the most simple recipe of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water, the Heloise website has a more complex formula that includes alcohol, food coloring, and essential oil for scent. There is one website (Katie) that simply replaces the soap with essential oils, although she does recommend adding “a couple drops of liquid castille [her spelling, not mine] soap or liquid dish soap in some of this mixture the first time you clean the windows to remove detergent residue”. There is also one website (johnson) that gives a slightly different window cleaning technique. Here, one is to use a soft bristle brush to scrub the window with the solution and then rinse the window using clean water; thus, no rags are involved, making this an even greener method. Frontier presents an interesting formula that includes cream of tartar instead of the soap and uses lemongrass tea instead of water. I am going to try this recipe once I place an order with them. Lastly, I came across another website (Martin) that actually did tests on various natural recipes. This author swears by vinegar, alcohol, and cornstarch.
Some of you may be questioning why I don't list any ammonia-based recipe, which can be found in volume on the Internet and are often highly recommended. Ammonia is toxic to the human body. According to the New York State Department of Health, “When ammonia enters the body as a result of breathing, swallowing or skin contact, it reacts with water to produce ammonium hydroxide. This chemical is very corrosive and damages cells in the body on contact.” For this toxic reason, I will not entertain using ammonia.
I decided to see if there were any Victorian window cleaning recipes. According to a blog by scotslass, there were two Victorian glass cleaning methods. One method is a variation on the above formula using 2 cups water, 3 tbsp. vinegar, and 1/2 tsp. liquid vegetable-oil based soap. That raises another question for future research: Did Victorians have liquid soap? This formula is sprayed onto glass and wiped off using crumpled newspaper. The second method sounds more Victoria. One is to put “methylated spirits” on a cloth to wipe the window and then polish the window using leather. &ldquoMethylated spirits&rdquo is another name for denatured alcohol. This is ethanol with poisons added so it cannot be ingested. This blog seems to be the only mention on the Internet of Victorian-era glass cleaners/methods. If you find any others, please drop me an e-mail with the URL so I can check it out.
Since the liquid soap recipe is part of a Victorian website, I have decided to proceed using that formulation with a slightly different recipe. See the next post for details. As always, I welcome your comments. Click on the Comment link below; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.
References:
Bond, Annie B. "The Best Window Cleaner." Care2. Care2.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Cleaning with Herbs." Frontier Natural Products Co-op. Frontier Natural Products Co-op, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Denatured Alcohol." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Facts About Ammonia, The." Department of Health. New York State, Mar. 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Heloise Hints." Heloise. Heloise, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Huffstetler, Erin. "Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe - Make Your Own Glass Cleaner." Frugal Living. About.com, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Johnson, Amy. "The Best Window Cleaner Ever … like Ever." She Wears Many Hats. She Wears Many Hats, 19 Nov. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Katie. "Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe." Wellness Mama. Wellness Mama, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Martin, Leslie. "Battle of the Homemade Glass Cleaners." Crunchy Betty. CrunchyBetty, 28 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Scotslass. "Victorian Cleaning Methods." HubPages. HubPages Inc., 8 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Washing Windows." Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Of course, there are several deviations from this routine. While Martha Stewart uses the most simple recipe of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water, the Heloise website has a more complex formula that includes alcohol, food coloring, and essential oil for scent. There is one website (Katie) that simply replaces the soap with essential oils, although she does recommend adding “a couple drops of liquid castille [her spelling, not mine] soap or liquid dish soap in some of this mixture the first time you clean the windows to remove detergent residue”. There is also one website (johnson) that gives a slightly different window cleaning technique. Here, one is to use a soft bristle brush to scrub the window with the solution and then rinse the window using clean water; thus, no rags are involved, making this an even greener method. Frontier presents an interesting formula that includes cream of tartar instead of the soap and uses lemongrass tea instead of water. I am going to try this recipe once I place an order with them. Lastly, I came across another website (Martin) that actually did tests on various natural recipes. This author swears by vinegar, alcohol, and cornstarch.
Some of you may be questioning why I don't list any ammonia-based recipe, which can be found in volume on the Internet and are often highly recommended. Ammonia is toxic to the human body. According to the New York State Department of Health, “When ammonia enters the body as a result of breathing, swallowing or skin contact, it reacts with water to produce ammonium hydroxide. This chemical is very corrosive and damages cells in the body on contact.” For this toxic reason, I will not entertain using ammonia.
I decided to see if there were any Victorian window cleaning recipes. According to a blog by scotslass, there were two Victorian glass cleaning methods. One method is a variation on the above formula using 2 cups water, 3 tbsp. vinegar, and 1/2 tsp. liquid vegetable-oil based soap. That raises another question for future research: Did Victorians have liquid soap? This formula is sprayed onto glass and wiped off using crumpled newspaper. The second method sounds more Victoria. One is to put “methylated spirits” on a cloth to wipe the window and then polish the window using leather. &ldquoMethylated spirits&rdquo is another name for denatured alcohol. This is ethanol with poisons added so it cannot be ingested. This blog seems to be the only mention on the Internet of Victorian-era glass cleaners/methods. If you find any others, please drop me an e-mail with the URL so I can check it out.
Since the liquid soap recipe is part of a Victorian website, I have decided to proceed using that formulation with a slightly different recipe. See the next post for details. As always, I welcome your comments. Click on the Comment link below; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.
References:
Bond, Annie B. "The Best Window Cleaner." Care2. Care2.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Cleaning with Herbs." Frontier Natural Products Co-op. Frontier Natural Products Co-op, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Denatured Alcohol." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Facts About Ammonia, The." Department of Health. New York State, Mar. 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Heloise Hints." Heloise. Heloise, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Huffstetler, Erin. "Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe - Make Your Own Glass Cleaner." Frugal Living. About.com, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Johnson, Amy. "The Best Window Cleaner Ever … like Ever." She Wears Many Hats. She Wears Many Hats, 19 Nov. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Katie. "Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe." Wellness Mama. Wellness Mama, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Martin, Leslie. "Battle of the Homemade Glass Cleaners." Crunchy Betty. CrunchyBetty, 28 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
Scotslass. "Victorian Cleaning Methods." HubPages. HubPages Inc., 8 Sept. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
"Washing Windows." Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
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