(Natural News) Many commercial surface cleaners contain harmful chemicals like ammonia and phthalates that are too toxic for use around the house. They can irritate the skin and lungs and even cause permanent damage.

While commercial cleaning products are undeniably effective, the harm they can cause is simply too steep a price to pay. When it comes to safety, it’s better to take matters into your own hands and make your own glass and window cleaner yourself.

How to make a non-toxic glass and window cleaner

Getting rid of that tough window stain does not require the use of costly and harmful store-bought products. You can produce a top-grade, non-toxic cleaner right at the comfort of your home just by mixing common homesteading items. You only need the following things: (h/t to NewLifeOnAHomestead.com)

• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional)
• 10 drops of essential oils like tea tree and eucalyptus oil (optional)
• Mason jar

This DIY cleaning product is super easy to do. You just need to:

1. Pour all of the ingredients into the jar and stir.
2. Cover the jar and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
3. Use your all-natural cleaning solution for glassware, chrome and ceramic surfaces and window screens.

Using either rubbing alcohol or vinegar works well, but using both of them together works even better. The resulting mixture is a non-toxic, streak-free glass and window cleaner that is as effective as commercial cleaning products.

Though optional, adding cornstarch can enhance the mixture because cornstarch is extremely useful for cleaning beveled or decorative glass. It helps break down water bonds and prevent spotting and streaking. It can reveal the hidden dirt in glass surfaces that look squeaky clean at first glance.