I’ve saved money by swapping pungent commercial window cleaner sprays for this gentle, effective and luxury-smelling DIY recipe

If you’re looking for a quick and easy window cleaner recipe, this one’s for you. You don’t need vinegar, it smells great and melts off window grime with ease.

I’m a big fan of making my own cleaning sprays and not a fan of the pungent smell of vinegar so this essential oil spray not only leaves a gentle fragrance on your windows, but it can be used inside and out, and take less than a minute to make.

It’s the perfect swap if you’re working to make your home less toxic.

Try this vinegar-free essential oil window cleaner

All you need is two cups of water (filtered or distilled water available at Walmart is better so you don’t leave mineral deposits on your glass), 10-20 drops of essential oil and a drop of dish soap such as Dawn, also from Walmart, to act as surfactant.

Surfactant helps the window cleaner to grip onto the surface of the glass, whilst the essential oil is surprisingly powerful for cutting through grease and stains.

Karina Toner, professional cleaner and operations manager at Spekless says, 'You're absolutely on the right track with this recipe. It’s simple, effective, and ideal for anyone looking to avoid the strong smell of vinegar or reduce their exposure to synthetic ingredients.'

'Your use of dish soap as a surfactant is smart and necessary. Surfactants break the surface tension of water, which allows the cleaner to spread more evenly and lift away grime from glass rather than leaving streaks behind.

'If others are looking to avoid dish soap, an unscented Castille soap is a good alternative as it's gentle, plant-based, and still provides that essential “grip” on surfaces.'

You can pick up non-GMO and EWG-certified Pure Castille soap at Walmart.

As for the oil, I always return to my favorite pure geranium essential oil from Amazon as it leaves a gentle smell behind that lingers and permeates the air around it. It’s gentle, doesn’t have that awful nose-crinkling smell of vinegar, and smells luxurious.

Whilst it might seem counterintuitive to use oil on glass, I can attest to the fact my home-made window cleaner recipe leaves no streaks behind.

Just make sure you use a microfiber cloth, or failing that, an old t-shirt or old bedding you've repurposed as cleaning scraps to buff the glass without leaving lint or fibers behind.

Karina agrees, explaining, 'When used correctly in tiny amounts and paired with a surfactant, essential oils won’t leave your windows greasy. The key is to shake your spray bottle well before each use and always follow up with a microfiber cloth to buff away any lingering moisture or residue. Done right, it leaves glass clean, clear, and streak-free.'

I have found this to be absolutely true, and I tend to use fewer squirts of the spray than a harsh cleane,r as it works well with less, and goes far.

Karina rates geranium, adding, 'It's a lovely choice with a fresh, floral scent that many people find calming and luxurious. Other great options include:

• Lemon – naturally degreasing and uplifting. Pure lemon essential oil is available from Amazon.
• Lavender – antimicrobial and relaxing. Pure lavender essential oil is available at Amazon.
• Tea Tree – excellent for its antibacterial and antifungal properties (just use sparingly—it’s potent). Organic tea tree essential oil is available at Amazon.
• Eucalyptus – invigorating and leaves a crisp, clean smell. Organic eucalyptus essential oil is available at Amazon.

I tried it

I use this window cleaner recipe in my house to also clean stainless steel surfaces and counters. It’s brilliant on mirrors, too. I started using it after signing up for a costly, essential oil-based cleaning spray monthly subscription and realized I could make it myself at a fraction of the cost.

Aside from the money-saving element, I didn’t like how the monthly subscription had so many extra ingredients and chemicals in it, most of which I couldn’t understand the makeup of.

Whenever I see a long list of ingredients on commercial products, I worry about the toxicity of the item, as it can be a way for companies to bury the true risks of their ingredients. I avoid greenwashing when picking cleaning products by steering clear of harsh agents when they're really not needed.

In a house with a young child and two cats, the less toxic and more natural my surface and window cleaner sprays, the better.

Cleaning expert Karina Toner agrees you don't need harsh chemicals to clean well. She says, 'Subscription cleaning kits can be a fun way to experiment, but they’re often more expensive than necessary and contain a laundry list of extras you may not need.

'One of the biggest benefits of DIY recipes like yours is knowing exactly what’s going into your cleaning solution and saving money while still getting professional-quality results. It’s empowering, and just as effective when you’ve got the right components.'

My verdict: I’ve been using my DIY window cleaner spray for 10 months, and I give it a 10/10 for effectiveness.

What to shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

You can clean your windows without streaks, or use essential oils for cleaning around the home.