Homemade Glass Cleaner

Marriage is all about compromises. Even when it comes to simple things, like what you clean the windows with. Papa Bear hasn't minded too many of the changes I've made over the years, but he does like streak-free windows. And toilets that smell like bleach, but there's not a compromise there. I've purchased a few different kinds of all-natural glass cleaners and made my own with just vinegar and water. None of them meet Papa Bear's standards. Since his police cruiser is his "office" and visibility is a very important factor in doing his job well, our compromise was that he would use (and keep) commercial (read: toxic) window cleaner in his car.

But now...I found a recipe for Heloise's window cleaner and after trying it on a couple of mirrors in the house, this may be the one. My only concern is that it contains rubbing alcohol. I know it's dangerous so I'll definitely have to be more vigilant about keeping it out of reach of the little ones than I was with the plain vinegar/water solution. Just wondering, is rubbing alcohol considered natural?

Heloise's Window Cleaner

In a clean, empty spray bottle, combine:
12-16 oz water
1/2 c white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
1/4 c rubbing alcohol (70%)
 a few drops of essential oil (lavender, orange, cinnamon, etc.), opt.

Heloise and many others recommend using newspaper to clean windows also. I stick to paper towels or microfiber cloths because we don't get the newspaper. It would be a great way to recycle them, though.

The true test of this homemade glass cleaner will come when I use it inside the van. I hate do not care for cleaning the van when it's cold outside, so it has accumulated quite a bit of filth. I have a couple of boys who love to display their artistic abilities in the condensation on the windows.