Home-made liquid cleaner for outdoor windows ?

Hi All,

I live in an apartment building and our windows are nice and large (I'll attach photo) and I am on the 3rd floor with a sort of gable I think it's called, beneath my bedroom window. So, the owners say my window can't be cleaned. I can reach it myself safely though, I just need to know what sort of solution to use in case any drips down onto foliage, etc. I plan to be so, so careful of course, but it's been 6 years in January since I moved in and the window is awful by now, mostly trees/pollen, dust etc.

I just want to use what I have, or can afford like dish soap, ammonia, regular water, vinegar, but maybe someone has another suggestion that won't cost me too much? I did order what I hope will be a good tool for me to use. It's a long squeegee, I'll show a link to it. Feedback welcome, and thank you in advance for any help, Denise PS that little roof thingy extends wider than my window so water should not be dripping on anyone else's windows below me if I do drip any
Squeegee I ordered

 

My mom always used vinegar and they always came out nice and clean. Dish soap would need to be rinsed and ammonia's too strong, plus you can't buy it anymore.

 

I don't like using Ammonia if I don't have to, but I didn't know you can't buy it anymore. I bought mine within the last 6 years so it must be fairly recently they removed it from the shelves?

My windows are pretty bad, were your mother's? These are outdoor windows

 

Her house was a hundred years old with the original windows. Not sure how bad they were, but very old.
You can probably get ammonia in some places, it's just not readily available the way it used to be. I'd think ammonia would need to be diluted if you use that. Maybe someone here knows. Wouldn't put it in the green category tho.

 

Ok, thanks much, I think your suggestion, your mom's way will be the best to try first so thank you for helping me, Denise

 

After trying every know cleaner, newspapers, Windex (terrible) know to man I came across the absolutely best solution for cleaning windows.

Anybody that poo-poos it saying they have something better has never tried it!

You need 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and two cups warm water.

It's the corn starch that cuts through all the grime. Safe for plants. I use a window squeegee.

 

Thanks Marq,

I will try this one, I like the idea of the cornstarch and I also have that on hand!! It will be hard to sit on the window ledge, inside and get good pressure on the window, so maybe the cornstarch will give me a real advantage!! Thanks again, Denise

 

I still haven't tried this Marq, but want you to know I am just getting my other 2 projects out of the way first. I have a small squeegee for my one, small window's outside, and the bigger squeegee for the outside of my 2, picture windows. The one will be a chore because of it being to high to reach from outside. The other is on my 3rd floor walkway and will be easier.

I will be back to let you know how it all goes, Denise PS Thanks again!!

 

I wash mine with dish soap and just scrape the water off after. I've never had a problem with it.

White vinigar is good, but unlikely to cut through the really grimy bits.

Personally I would go dish soap, really hot water....get as much on it and dripping down it as possible. Then leave for as long as you can without it trying...then give it a good scrub.

 

While I don't use it, ammonia is widely available. It's probably restricted in some locales. I use vinegar, dish detergent and water.