Nothing says 'clean' like sparkling, streak-free windows and mirrors, but achieving that elusive shine can be difficult without the right glass cleaner! To help you choose the best one for the job, we've put together a guide to the different types: sprays, wipes, and bottles of concentrated liquid. Eco-friendly cleaners that harness plant power are also a popular choice, so we'll cover the benefits of natural ingredients too.
Once you've read our handy guide, check out our top 10 products to buy at Amazon, eBay, and Asda, from brands such as Windex, Method, and Mr Muscle. Whether you're after an ammonia-free, vinegar-based formula for your car or something with alcohol that'll cut through household grime, our picks are guaranteed to get everything gleaming!
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Spray bottles are a popular format for glass cleaners as they deliver great coverage and dispense the correct amount of product with each squirt - this makes them ideal for small surfaces like car windows and mirrors.
As there's no need to dilute the formula before use, they're ready to go straight away. Plus, they're an incredibly affordable option so they offer a happy compromise between cost and convenience.
Just make sure you look for bottles that allow you to shut the spray function off, to avoid any accidents after you've finished cleaning!
Investing in a bottle of concentrated liquid is a very economical choice when it comes to purchasing glass cleaner - a little goes a long, long way! If you need to polish a large area like your household windows or patio door, this is a great option.
However, this type of formula does generally need to be diluted before use, so you'll also need a bucket and a squeegee or a spray bottle in order to start cleaning. Still, it's what most professional cleaners use so you know it'll do the job well!
For a great finish on large scale glass, try our Best Shower Squeegees!
Cleaning wipes are a speedy, ultra-convenient way to clean your home. Just whip out your wipes - swish, swipe, and you’re done! Unfortunately though, they're expensive if you need to cover a large area and they're not environmentally friendly either.
Perhaps best used in "on the go" situations rather than for regular household cleaning, wipes are handy to have in your car for touch-ups when you don’t have access to your full cleaning kit.
If you're keen on eco-friendly options, try our Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products!
Various types of alcohol, including isopropyl alcohol, are commonly found in the top brands of glass cleaners. These work by speeding up the drying process so that water marks won't be visible on the glass.
While alcohol is a really effective ingredient for cleaning, it can be a bit stinky! It’s always a good idea to ensure that wherever you’re cleaning is well ventilated, so you don’t breathe in too much of the product.
Ammonia is another popular ingredient found in many leading brands of glass cleaner. It's highly effective at cutting through grease and grime to leave your glass spotless, before evaporating quickly to leave behind a streak-free surface.
However, it can cause irritation if inhaled in high concentrations, so keep your windows open or wear a mask when using products containing ammonia.
Cleaning products don’t need to contain harsh chemicals in order to be effective. In fact, eco-friendly formulas are gaining popularity as more people become aware of the impact that chemicals can have on both our health and the planet.
Plant-based ingredients such as vinegar can work just as well as chemicals when it comes to powering through grease and grime. Its acidity breaks down any film that might start to accumulate on glass, leaving it sparkling instead. It's anti-bacterial too, which is always a bonus!
For the finishing touches on the perfect cleaning routine, try our Best Toilet Cleaners!
This British-made window and glass cleaner is part of the amazing Astonish household range. The spray nozzle distributes the product evenly across surfaces so they're ready to be buffed to a perfect, streak-free shine.
Featuring vinegar as its active ingredient, this product is totally natural and doesn't leave a nasty chemical smell. We also love that it's completely cruelty-free and vegan - great news for animal lovers!
Ecozone's glass cleaner is made in the UK from entirely plant-based ingredients. Its streak-free formula gives you effective results without harming the environment, and it has a fresh citrus-floral fragrance too!
If ensuring that a cleaning product is vegan and cruelty-free is important to you, this is an excellent choice. It's also safe for any children or animals living in your household.
This impressive eco-cleaner is tough on grime but gentle on your glass. The non-toxic, plant-based formula uses a corn-based alcohol ingredient to give you sparkling, streak-free windows as well as a clear conscience. Plus, it has a delightfully minty scent that's derived from fragrance oil rather than chemicals.
Suitable for use on a variety of surfaces, this cleaner comes in a large spray bottle and is great value for money!
This professional-grade formula is highly recommended by those in the window cleaning business. It can also be used on mirrors and any other water-resistant, non-porous surfaces around your home. The spray format provides direct coverage so you can get the job done quickly.
While this cleaner isn’t cheap, it gives great results without requiring much elbow grease - this makes it well worth spending a little extra on!
This super-concentrated window cleaner powers through grease and grime effortlessly. Used and trusted by window cleaning professionals, it evaporates quickly to leave glass streak-free.
You'll need to dilute this cleaner in order to use it, so it takes a bit longer to use than a wipe or a spray, but it's a very economical option. Plus, it doesn’t contain any ammonia - that's always a bonus if you ask us!
Sold in a concentrated bottle, Unger’s Liquid is popular with professionals thanks to its highly effective formula. Not only does it clean like a dream, but it's also biodegradable and surprisingly gentle on skin if you do accidentally get some on yourself while scrubbing.
Suitable for use with tech tools like window vacuums as well as regular cleaning cloths, this product can be used to polish all kinds of glass, from mirrors to shower screens. Best of all, it's a huge bottle that will last for absolutely ages!
Windolene is the only cream on our list of recommended products and it works brilliantly on all types of glass and shiny surfaces. We recommend the bottle as it's the most cost-effective option, but it's also available as a spray bottle or wipes.
This product is powerful and provides a deep clean for particularly grimy glass. However, it does include perfume in the ingredients so may cause irritation to those with sensitive skin if used in an enclosed space.
Mr Muscle is a trusted brand here in the UK, and this "advanced power" spray makes cleaning quick and easy. It contains vinegar, which is renowned for its efficient dirt-busting qualities.
As one of the cheapest cleaners on our list, this product certainly ticks the box for those on a budget. While it has a strong smell that some might prefer to avoid, there's no denying that it'll leave your glass looking pristine with just a few spritzes!
A market leader across the pond in the US, many swear by Windex as the ultimate glass cleaner, thanks to its patented ammonia-based ingredient called ammonia-D. This spray gets to work quickly, dissolving dirt and grease to leave your glass looking crystal clear.
Windex is a bit difficult to get hold of in the UK, meaning it costs more than your average spray bottle. For many people though, its impeccable performance makes it well worth the extra money. Just make sure that you only use it in a well-ventilated area or when wearing a mask.
These glass cleaning wipes from Windolene are really convenient - just wipe and go, no need for mess or fuss! They're ideal for small touch up jobs or for cleaning screens (like monitors, or phones) that you don't want to risk getting too wet.
While these wipes are great in a pinch, they're relatively expensive for large-scale cleaning tasks and sadly they do generate quite a bit of waste as you'll have to throw them away after one use.
Written and researched by Sonata Winchester
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