Cleaning windows with chemicals is not a good idea for your health, nor for the planet as when it rains, they just wash down drains and into the sea. Take them to the toxic waste department (empty bottles can be recycled).
Don’t face indoor plants to gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows. Choose unscented biodegradable cleaners for pregnancy/nursing/medical conditions (and near pets – citrus oils in particular are unsafe).
A simple solution to clean windows is simply biodegradable dish soap and hot water. Scrub the glass with a plastic-free sponge, then hose down. Seep makes good plastic-free sponges and cloths (and Fair Trade latex gloves).
To make a homemade window cleaner, mix 2 cups of hot water with 1/2 cup of white cleaning vinegar. Mix into a spray bottle and apply with a lint cloth. Dry with a squeegee blade. It’s best to clean on a cloudy day, to avoid streaks from drying in sunny weather. Use a dustpan and brush to clean exteriors before washing. For high windows, hire a window cleaner.
For commercial brands, Bio-D and Elmkind offer biodegradable glass & mirror cleaners. No matter what companies say, essential oils are not safe near animals, so choose Bio-D unscented if you live with pets.
Cats don’t always ‘right themselves’ when they land. So it’s important to not let them lie near open top windows (cat screens may be an option).
