The Best Glass Cleaners of 2024

Written by
Liv Birdsall, writer and yoga teacher passionate about sustainability, home, and beauty topics
Lily Hartman, staff writer, research expert, and active lifestyle enthusiast.

Updated February 26, 2024

We all aspire to have clean windows and clean mirrors. Nothing is less attractive than toothpaste spots above the sink or dirt in your line of sight while driving. It should go without saying, but having a good glass cleaner is the key to a good view.

There is more than one way to clean mirrors and windows, but regardless of your method, you’ll want a reliable glass cleaner that does the work so you don’t have to use as much elbow grease to leave a streak-free shine. Like other cleaning products, there are several factors that separate the good glass cleaning agents from the great: efficacy, smell, ingredients, toxicity, and price.

These are the best cleaners for glass you can get online right now.

Glass Plus Glass Cleaner

This ammonia-free cleaner doesn’t have much of a smell. There is only one spray setting, but that spray is even and wide.

We really liked using Glass Plus and the fact that it leaves minimal streaks. I was especially impressed with its powerful cleaning of the jelly mixture on the window, so much so that I used it at the end of the day to clean my window of all the leftover powder and resulting stickiness.

Pros

• Ammonia-free

• Even spray

Cons

• Only one spray setting

Buy now at Amazon

Hope's Perfect Glass

This all-around cleaner is great for indoor and outdoor use. It removed the soap stains and jelly mixture well, with minimal streaking after drying. The spray is even and the cleaner doesn’t drip too quickly down windows, making it easy to wipe it away without rushing.

This cleaner also has some nostalgic value for me. My dad exclusively uses Hope’s Perfect Glass for cleaning car windows, so a chunk of my childhood was spent hunched in the back row of our cars, minivans, and trucks over the years with a wad of newspaper and the black spray bottle in hand.

While performance is tops, it does have an ammonia scent, and it isn’t the best choice for use around pets and children.

Pros

• Minimal streaking

• Even spray

Cons

• Contains ammonia

• Strong smell

Buy now at Amazon

$14.59 from Home Depot

Force of Nature Multi-Purpose Cleaner (Starter Kit & 5 Capsules)

Force of Nature stands out from all the other cleaners we tested because it’s the only one that kills germs. It’s part of an eco-friendly cleaning system that you have to order, and then activate just before use by squeezing a provided vinegar packet into a bottle and electrolyzing it by using electricity.

One downside is that the mixture’s elements weaken over time, so you need to remake the cleaner every two to three weeks. However, while it’s working, it performs very well. It emits only a slight smell and its nozzle can widen and close to span a range of areas.

The glass-cleaning spray also doubles as an all-purpose cleaner that can tackle any mess in your home, even if you have small children and pets.

Pros

• Kills germs, including COVID

• Safe for humans

• Part of a system

Cons

• Expires quickly

• Chlorine smell

Buy now at Amazon

Aunt Fannie’s Glass & Window Vinegar Wash

Many people swear by cleaning their home with products that have natural ingredients, using vinegar for cleaning countertops, shower tiles, and even windows. Aunt Fannie's Glass & Window Vinegar Wash is a pre-made vinegar mix that is specially formulated for glass, saving the time it would take to make your own cleaner.

We were satisfied to see the vinegar cut through the messes during the tests, though the droplets run quickly and the vinegar scent is strong. There were some wet streaks when wiping with the paper towel, and some resulting dry streaks.

Pros

• Child safe

• Natural ingredients

Cons

• Vinegar smell

• Some streaking

Buy now at Amazon

Windex Original Glass Cleaner

I was curious to see where the common household Windex Original Glass Cleaner ranked after our testing. It did well in categories like even spray and having a nozzle that offers several different types of streams. However, the cleaner wasn’t able to clean the mirror and window as well as other cleaners, including a handful of ammonia-free options.

Pros

• Even spray

• Various spray options

Cons

• Contains ammonia

• Drips quickly

• Leaves some streaking

Buy now at Amazon

Windex Ammonia-Free Glass Cleaner

Though this cleaner is ammonia-free, it still has a pungent smell. And it unfortunately doesn’t make up for that in other ways.

Unlike other Windex formulas, the cleaner struggled to clean the jelly off the window, which suggests that it wouldn’t be great on tougher messes. The cleaner also left streaks behind with both the paper towel and microfiber cleaning cloth.

Pros

• Ammonia free

Cons

• Streaking

• Strong smell

• Drips quickly

Buy now at Amazon

What You Should Know About Buying Glass Cleaners

Here's Why Window Cleaning Is So Important

Cleaner windows help you see better, which can improve your living room view or your vision while driving.

Windows also tend to gather dust inside and dirt and pollen outside, so cleaning windows inside and out regularly can help improve the amount of light filtering into your home, as well as reduce allergens.

Natural light helps our plants grow and our moods stay lifted, so we recommend cleaning your windows weekly to brighten your space and clear off any buildup.

How Should You Clean Glass Surfaces?

Before you buy a glass cleaner, you’ll want to think through how you’ll use it. Most glass cleaners are made for windows and mirrors, but some can be used on car windows, TV screens, and even stovetops. However, each glass cleaner comes with its own formula and instructions. Make sure to do your research before spraying throughout your home.

Most glass cleaners have ammonia, which has a strong scent but leaves windows clear with a streak-free finish, most of the time. If you have pets or children, you may opt for a more natural cleaner without ammonia, many of which use white vinegar instead.

When it comes to television screens—or most tech screens for that matter—you absolutely want to avoid cleaners with alcohol or ammonia. This can rule out many glass cleaners, but a soft cloth with warm water can do the trick.

Things You Should Never Clean with Glass Cleaner

While glass is used in many products, not all glass should be cleaned with glass cleaner. Your glass stovetop is one of those items; read directions and care manuals before cleaning your glass stovetop, and never, ever use an ammonia-based glass cleaner on a hot stovetop. Opt for a stovetop cleaner made specifically for glass-top stoves.

You’ll also want to avoid spraying glass cleaner on tech screens like your TV, desktop monitor, and laptop. Some screens need gentler cleaners, and you don’t want to damage the screen’s surface or color. If your screen can be cleaned with glass cleaner always spray directly onto a cloth and then wipe the screen.

Does Glass Cleaner Disinfect?

Generally, glass cleaners don’t kill germs. Some may have strong chemicals, like ammonia, but that doesn’t mean the surfaces are disinfected after use.

Of the cleaners we tested, only one—Force of Nature—actually kills germs, and it is because it is part of a cleaning system and offers multiple uses in one spray. If you want to disinfect windows, we recommend creating your own vinegar mixture or using an all-purpose spray before cleaning with glass cleaner.

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