Green Cleaning - Forget the Paper Towels

Microfiber cloths can be used for cleaning. They are machine washable. Cut the corner off old washcloths so they do not get mixed up with your good ones, and use as cleaning rags. Old bathtowels can be cut up to make cleaning rags, too. Toss in washer and use again.

For cleaning windows, mirrors and glass, I use old cut up sheets. It doesn't leave lint on the surface like paper towels do and they're completely washable and re-usable.

I used to manage a hotel and cut up all towels into segments and cut off corners of wash cloths for identification as cleaning rags. They went through the bleach/disinfection cycles with similar towels/wash cloths/whites on disinfect cycles. Of course, that was before the new microfiber. Paper towels were not part of my cleaning arsenal.

Within the household and motel/hotel industry, fabrics can be easily recycled. Undies can make for great dust and cleaning rags. Depending on sheet fabric content, they, too, can make for appropriate dust/cleaning rags. Towels/wash cloths stained/worn tend to be readily available.

Simply use newspaper (or that junk mail that hasn’t yet subsided) for the cleanest, clearest possible windows!
Misting with water is normally all that is needed to clean interiors windows, although if more is required, use equal parts alcohol & distilled water, or equal vinegar & water. On exterior windows, the alcohol mixture is not recommended due to the flammable/combustible risks involved, as generally an outdoor environment can not be positively controlled.
TIP ~*~
*If you’ve recently moved, be sure to keep that “wonderful” packing paper. In most cases packers will overfill the boxes with it and even though you’ll dread taking it off the dishes (and the many other items) be sure to hold onto it, as this amazing paper is perhaps the world’s most perfect window cleaning product. Your windows in your house and or car will sparkle for some time!
Try using the packing paper in other way as well; such as dusting, wrapping paper, art projects, or even for crackle wall paper – so many uses, and yet, it’s thrown away every day. Often local moving/packing companies will give it away free – by request- just go by, or call and ask if they have recently done an “unpack” and/or have any old/used packing paper.:coffee:

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me."
--Ayn Rand


"Stumble onto fulfillment"
--LLM--

Does using newspaper prevent window streaking? I always dread cleaning windows, after all the hard work I step back to see the job I did, and they look worse than before I cleaned them!! Those cleaning agents that claim they don't leave streaks don't work.

Yes, using newspaper will give you crystal clear glass and you shouldn't need to even use any cleaning agent. The classic method is to simply crumple up the newspaper a bit and dampen slightly. My recollection is that there is something in the printer's ink on the newspaper that does the trick.

liz
On ext windows, I always use a squeegee, lambswool pad, and a micro-fiber towel. A bucket of lightly soapy water (I use liquid car wash soap), scrub with lambswool, use the squeegee, wipe the outside with the towel, done. Prob less than a minute per avg window.

Be a little messy to use inside tho.