The Best Window Cleaners
This Old House Reviews Team
Finding a streak-free, smudge-resistant window cleaner can be difficult. Read our review to learn about our picks for the best window cleaners on Amazon.
Window cleaners are designed to clean glass surfaces, leaving them streak-, smudge-, and fingerprint-free to see through. To help you select the cleaner that’s right for you, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best window cleaners on Amazon. Here are our top five recommendations.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GFLZ0WU
Windex Glass and Window Cleaner
What We Like: The spray utilizes the powerful chemical ammonia to remove smudges, fingerprints, and more from glass surfaces. To decrease its pollution footprint, Windex partners with the Plastic Bank to package its cleaner in bottles that are made entirely from recycled plastic.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077CWGKKS
Invisible Glass Window Spray
What We Like: Specifically formulated for windows and windshields, this ammonia-free spray is safe for both tinted and non-tinted surfaces in your car, boat, home, and office. Your purchase comes with four 32-ounce bottles for one gallon of product.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GFLZ14C
Windex Vinegar Glass Spray
What We Like: The main ingredient of this spray is vinegar. Though it functions similarly to ammonia, it’s not as harmful for your or the environment, and it doesn’t have as strong of a smell. For those who are sensitive to smells but don’t want to sacrifice effectiveness, this cleaner can’t be beat.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ZZDQ0Y
Zep Glass Cleaner
What We Like: Loved by hospitality workers, this ammonia-based, professional-strength spray dissolves grease and grime from shower doors, windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces. It dries quickly, leaving only a fresh scent as evidence that it was there.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HVVVRBY
MiracleWipes Cleaning Wipes
What We Like: Perfect for on-the-go cleaning, these wipes come pre-moistened and lightly scented. After wiping glass with one of them, you can dry the surface with the included microfiber towel that leaves a lint- and scratch-free finish.
Buyer’s Guide
From vinegar sprays to ammonia wipes, there are many products on the market that can clean your windows. To land on the right cleaner for your home, read our guide below.
Type
Most window cleaners come in a spray bottle. This type is easy to apply to your windows using a paper towel or microfiber towel. Other cleaners come as foam or pre-moistened wipes. Foam works similarly to liquid, but it doesn’t run down your windows as much. While convenient, pre-moistened wipes are single-use and prone to leaving streaks.
Ingredients
Most glass cleaners are made with ammonia. This ingredient provides a thorough clean and a sparkling finish. However, it can cause allergy-like symptoms, such as headaches and itchy eyes, with its strong smell.
Vinegar is also a common ingredient that’s used in more natural cleaners. It performs like ammonia—only a little more prone to streaks. Though it still has a smell, it’s not as pungent.
Amount
Most window cleaners come in a 32-ounce spray bottle, though you can find larger bottles or multipacks if you have a lot of windows around your home. A 19-ounce can is standard for foam cleaners, while most containers have between 20 and 100 wipes.
Scent
The main ingredient is usually what determines the scent of your cleaner. However, some cleaners, especially ammonia-based ones, use additives to change their smell. Even with these additional ingredients, window cleaners typically have a chemical smell. If you’re sensitive to fragrance, wear a mask while you’re cleaning your windows.
Surfaces
Most window cleaners also work on other glass surfaces, such as vanity mirrors, shower doors, and dining tables. Stainless steel, granite, and other hard surfaces are other candidates for these cleaners as long as the label lists them as safe materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my windows?
Clean the inside of your windows once a week with one of the products from this review. At least twice a year, clean the outside of your windows. This will require special tools, such as an extension ladder and squeegee.
How do I prevent streaks?
You can prevent streaks by using a 100% microfiber towel to wipe the cleaner across your windows. Using an absorbent paper towel can contribute to streaks.
Can I use window cleaner on my car’s windshield?
If the cleaner says that it’s safe on tinted glass, then yes. Otherwise, it can damage the surface. Ammonia-free cleaners are usually safe for windshields.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
The This Old House Reviews Team provides overviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, hands-on testing in select cases, and other objective criteria unique to a given product line. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for DIY or other non-pro users only. Editor’s picks are made by members of the This Old House Reviews Team.