Outdoor Window Cleaner
This outdoor window cleaner is perfect for those hard-to-reach windows, especially when you'd rather avoid climbing a ladder. You'll need a hose with a good spray nozzle, a scrubber (I recommend this one from Amazon), and a long-handled pole for those out-of-reach spots. Remember to tackle this task on a cloudy day for optimal results.
Servings: 2 gallons
Cost: $1
Equipment
- 2.5 gallon capacity or larger bucket
Ingredients
- ½ cup dishwasher rinse aid, i.e. Finish by Jet Dry
- ½ cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, or denatured alcohol
- ¼ cup household ammonia, either sudsing or non-sudsing
- ⅓ cup any automatic dishwasher detergent powder, i.e. Cascade Complete
- 2 gallons hot water
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into the bucket and mix well until combined.
- Spray windows with the powerful spray nozzle, knocking off dirt, grime, and debris. Set the hose aside.
- Dip your scrubber of choice into the solution and get it fully saturated. Don't wring it out.
- Scrub the window thoroughly in all directions, making sure you reach the corners.
- Spray the window again with clean water.
- Let dry. That's it! Both the dishwasher detergent and rinse aid will create a "sheeting" action, to leave windows clean and streak-free. You can find a printable version of this outdoor window cleaning solution recipe below.
Notes
Note: When it comes to safety issues for pets and plants that might come in contact with this cleaner as it is rinsed away, I cannot say for sure what you should expect.
What I know is this formula has not damaged in any way anything growing in the area of the windows I've cleaned.
Here's why: many landscape fertilizers contain ammonia, and the ingredients in this cleaner are significantly diluted in the 2 gallons of water used. Additionally, they're further diluted when rinsed away.
After cleaning, I make sure to thoroughly hose off the deck, especially areas beneath windows near plants, to dilute any remaining residue. If you have concerns, I recommend conducting your own research for peace of mind.