We are often observers through the windows of life. Our home’s windows are a constant reminder there is a world just outside our door always there for us to capture what we seek. We are surrounded by these panes of glass not only in our home but in our cars, trains, offices, schools and everywhere we go to let us see the world beyond our four walls. We take in the weather, activities going on “out there” and even just let our mind drift of what we ourselves want to do on the other side of that glass.
Windows have a primary function of protecting us from the elements outside yet providing us with a view to see outward. We cover windows with blinds, curtains and decorative materials to accent a room or set off a desired level of natural light. We look both ways in windows, often looking out as much as we look in to see what is going on outside as well as what is occurring inside.
When it comes to windows, what we see can be a gateway to another world, imaginary or real but that view can also be distorted depending on how clean those glass panes are.
My Glass Doors & Windows
In our home I am constantly cleaning our glass doors from dog nose prints and little boys hands and even their noses and faces. It seems from the door knob down there is a constant smear, smudge, print, even finger drawing that require a frequent erasing. With two dogs now and a growing boy with a constant group of other little boys running in and out to play those marks on the glass are a reminder of a busy house but also of the need to continually clean.
Our growing puppy Little Daisy Mayfield waiting at the door for our son to come home, nose pressed against the glass.
I used to purchase the blue glass cleaner for these frequent jobs of cleaning the glass doors and the windows. It was just what I did not knowing there was any other way to actually clean a window. I would use this particular glass cleaner for my glass, mirrors, stove top and even the odd cleaning job around the house not giving it a second thought. However, now that I’m realizing what is actually in some of these household cleaners we can all purchase I became a little more leery of what I was using on the glass. After all, I know firsthand every day what is touching our windows. Like in this picture of our puppy Little Daisy Mayfield who has her nose against the glass patiently waiting for our son to come home. What is her nose picking up from that glass as a result of the cleaner I used? What is our son or his friends picking up as they put their faces against the door to play with Little Daisy Mayfield?
The Blue Stuff
The Think Dirty app is a free database app that rates the toxicity of cleaners and products gives Windex Glass Cleaner a score of an 8 out of 10. That means the product is considered highly dangerous because of the ingredients used in it to make it smell “good” and clean effectively.
In this case the majority of the negative rating comes from the fragrances used. There is a risk of carcinogens and allergic reactions from these fragrances that can cause harm to our respiratory system and skin. It is a risk for both human and pet.
Is the smell of clean worth risking an allergic reaction? Long term exposure to carcinogens can also cause more severe illnesses and diseases and has been linked to cancer as well.
At $4 – $6 a bottle for this cleaner it hardly seems worth the risk.
Natural Glass Cleaner
As much as I clean our doors and on some frequency I hit all the windows in our home as well, it was important to me that the glass cleaner I used worked. There is nothing worse than trying to clean something with a product that isn’t working to make the job easier and faster.
I went with a more natural brand of glass cleaner and liked it ok but it still seemed I was spending $4-$6 on the bottle. While it was in fact healthier to use and did a good job I was also looking at this as an opportunity to cut an expense for a cleaner we use regularly. Why not have clean windows and a few extra bucks in my pocket? Perhaps with enough extra bucks I can pay someone to clean those windows.
What I found was it is very easy to make your own glass cleaner. It is also very inexpensive, as in cents compared to $4-$6 for the same size bottle and effectiveness. The most expensive part was the upfront expense of purchasing a spray bottle.
Here’s the recipe I use:
Ingredients 16-ounce spray bottle 1 ½ cup white vinegar ½ cup distilled water 8 drops citrus oil of choice
Instructions
Add vinegar, water, and essential oil(s) to spray bottle and shake.
Clean surfaces
I use doTERRA Lemon essential oil. I have also tried Lime, Kumquat and Lemongrass. All work extremely well at cutting through the window grime and leaving a nice aroma. The difference in the oil comes down to personal preference.
However, I highly recommend the doTERRA oils because they are safe for internal use. In our home with so many fingers , faces and noses touching the glass I wanted something that I didn’t have to worry about being consumed or being absorbed through the skin.
Interested in more?
Spring cleaning is a perfect time to see clearly through your windows. When we remove the grime, dust and fingerprints we allow more light into our space. When we clean that glass with a natural cleaner such as the one I describe here we are not only cleaning the glass but giving our home a uplifting aroma that is safe and beneficial to our health.
If you have questions about the oils I describe in this post, please reach out. I’m happy to help you.
amyk@dragonspitapothecary.com
With a doTERRA account you can save at least 25% off the planet’s best oils and natural products. This not only replaces harmful cleaners but gives you the power to reclaim your health naturally. Learn more and get your account today at:
