Earth Friendly Glass Cleaner

Weekly DIY

Earth Friendly Glass Cleaner

Learn how to make a quick, easy and low-waste glass cleaner that lifts fingerprints and everyday grime without leaving streaks behind. Unlike many conventional glass cleaners, it keeps things simple with no ammonia, added fragrance or colourants - perfect for windows, mirrors, glass doors and tables.

2-5 Minutes
Beginner
Concerns
Smudged Mirrors • Oily Fingerprints • Dusty Windows • Streaky Glass
Benefits
Streak-Free Cleaning • Fast-Drying Finish • Low-Waste Refills • Multi-Use Ingredients
Format
Sprayable liquid.
Shelf life
Store tightly closed in a cool place away from heat and direct sunlight. Make with clean equipment and discard if the appearance or smell changes.

What You'll Need

Denatured Ethanol
1¼ cups
Maize-derived and fast-drying, helping cut through fingerprints and greasy film for a clear, streak-free finish

Decyl Glucoside
¼ teaspoon
A plant-derived cleanser used in a tiny amount to help lift dust and everyday grime without leaving behind a soapy residue

Distilled Water
4 cups
Provides a clean, low-mineral base that helps prevent water spots and streaking

You'll Also Need: A clean spray bottle, plus a few extra bottles for the rest - this recipe makes around 1.3 litres, so you’ll have plenty for refills or to bottle up and share with someone else tackling their windows, mirrors or car glass.

How to Make

  1. Add the distilled water to a clean jug or mixing container.
  2. In a small cup, mix the Decyl Glucoside with a little of the measured water until evenly dispersed, then stir it gently back into the main batch.
  3. Add the denatured ethanol and stir slowly until completely combined. Avoid vigorous mixing so you don’t create unnecessary foam.
  4. Pour into a clean spray bottle using a funnel, label, and store tightly closed away from heat, sparks and open flames.

How to Use

Guidance

Lightly mist the glass and wipe with a clean lint-free or microfibre cloth - or old newspaper.

For mirrors, spray the cloth rather than directly onto the mirror.

Make It Yours

  • For Greasier Glass:
    Increase the ethanol from 1¼ cups to 1½ cups for kitchen windows, glass splashbacks and particularly fingerprint-prone surfaces. The extra alcohol gives a little more grease-cutting power and helps the surface dry quickly.
  • For A DIY Hygiene Spray:
    Mix 1 cup ethanol, 1 tablespoon vegetable glycerine, and ¼ cup distilled water or hydrosol. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil for a lovely aroma.
  • For Your Own Botanical Perfume:
    Blend ethanol with a skin-safe combination of your favourite essential oils, then leave it to mature before bottling. For a classic cologne-style blend, try around 12% essential oils to 88% ethanol.
  • For Potent Botanical Extracts:
    Dilute the ethanol to around 50–60% with distilled water, then use it to extract botanicals like Liquorice Root, Gotu Kola or Turmeric. These hydroalcoholic extracts can then be added in small amounts to properly formulated skincare.
  • For Screen Cleaning:
    Dilute ¼ cup ethanol with ¾ cup distilled water, apply to a microfibre cloth rather than directly to the screen, and wipe gently. Always check your device manufacturer’s cleaning guidance first.
  • For Spectacles:
    Skip the ethanol and add only 1–2 drops Decyl Glucoside to 1 cup distilled water for a very mild lens wash. Rinse clean and dry with a lens cloth; check compatibility with coated lenses and lens-care instructions first.

Pro Tips & Storage

  • Why is there so little Decyl Glucoside?
    Glass needs very little surfactant. Just ¼ teaspoon helps lift fingerprints and grime, while keeping the formula low-foam and reducing the chance of soapy streaks.

  • Can I use tap water instead of distilled water?
    You can, but distilled water is recommended. Tap water contains minerals that can dry onto the glass and contribute to spots or streaking.

  • Can I add essential oils for fragrance?
    We recommend leaving them out. Essential oils introduce additional oils that need to be properly solubilised and may leave residue or streaks on glass.

  • Can I use it on phone, tv or computer screens?
    Not this glass-cleaner formula, as screens can have delicate oleophobic or anti-glare coatings. For compatible screens, instead mix ¼ cup ethanol with ¾ cup distilled water, apply lightly to a microfibre cloth rather than spraying the screen directly, and wipe gently. Always check your device manufacturer’s cleaning guidance first.

  • Does this sanitise surfaces?
    No. This glass cleaner contains roughly 23% ethanol, which is intended for cleaning and fast drying rather than sanitising. Use a properly formulated high-alcohol hygiene spray when sanitisation is required.

  • Can I use paper towel or newspaper to clean windows?
    You can, but a clean microfibre or lint-free cloth usually gives the best finish. Paper towel can leave behind lint, while newspaper may break down or transfer ink as it gets wet. For larger windows, a squeegee followed by a dry microfibre cloth works especially well for a clear, streak-free finish.
Essentially Natural Ethanol Denatured 96.4%

Essentially Natural Ethanol Denatured 96.4%

R 39.00
Essentially Natural Decyl Glucoside - Sulfate Free

Essentially Natural Decyl Glucoside - Sulfate Free

R 39.00
500ml Clear Glass Generic Bottle with Trigger Spray - Black (28/410)

500ml Clear Glass Generic Bottle with Trigger Spray - Black (28/410)

R 43.00

Aiden van Wyk

Aiden is an eccentric explorer of ideas, endlessly curious and always eager to share his discoveries. His mind is a maze of rabbit holes, each leading to new insights (and occasionally pure chaos). In all honesty - he's a little impulsive, he's easily distracted, delightfully scatterbrained, and unapologetically himself. But through every deep dive and misstep, his mission remains the same:

To make the world a teeny tiny little better, one lesson at a time :)