9 Surprising Windex Uses (Aside From Cleaning Glass)
Windex â that simple spray you keep under your sink â can be used to clean the interior of your car, to detail jewelry and even to unstick zippers.
The smell of ammonia is strongly disliked by many insects, says Andrew Barker, founder of Homeowner Costs. As a result, Barker suggests spraying Windex by open windows and doors to keep bugs at bay.
Source: thepennyhoarder.com
Danielle Braff is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
Make sure to use the clear formula for this, as the blue formula may leave its own stains.
1. Moving Large Pieces of Furniture
Benjamin Nguyen, owner of Full Color Cleaners, says he uses Windex to clean his patio furniture, making it look as good as new. It will clean everything from the furniture to outdoor surfaces, including brick.
As long as you use the ammonia-free version of Windex, you can use it on any type of flooring, including hardwood.
Here are 9 surprisingly effective uses for that familiar blue (or sometimes clear) bottle.
2. Cleaning Carpets and Upholstered Furniture
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It works well for red wine, tomato sauce, ketchup and more, says Jen Stark, founder of Happy DIY Home, a gardening and home improvement blog.
3. Insect Repellant
Follow this by washing the clothing as recommended. Make sure you use clear Windex for this task.
4. Clean Your Car
Your store shelves probably carry several varieties of Windex, so if youâre cleaning fabric, stick with the clear version, and if youâre using it for a car, use the Windex Ammonia-free Glass Cleaner.
Los Angeles-based interior designer John Linden uses Windex to slide large items that are stuck or too heavy to move.
5. Washing Makeup Brushes
Vinegar isnât the only super performer in your kitchen.
âYou can lightly spray the stain with Windex and let it sit for 15 minutes, as long as the clothing item isnât a delicate silk,â Stark said. âGet a clean cloth and blot at the stain before rinsing it in cold water.â
6. De-greasing Your Kitchen
Got a dusty TV? Dust is usually very prevalent on televisions because everyone is scared to clean them. But spray some Windex on a soft cloth and youâre good to go, says Abe Navas, general manager of Emilyâs Maids, a house cleaning service in Dallas.
Rodriguez-Zaba suggests spraying Windex on the surfaces and letting it stand for 5-10 minutes, then wiping it clean and rinsing with water to remove any remaining chemical residue.
7. Cleaning Your TV Screen
Aside from those suggestions, any of the Windex variations will do the job.
8. Removing Stains From Clothing
For this task, go the extra mile and snag the Windex Outdoor Concentrated Cleaner, which is a 32 oz. spray bottle that attaches onto a hose (.66). Spray onto your aluminum siding, your brick, your windows â and with this tool, you wonât even need a ladder to do it.
Makeup artist and lifestyle blogger Kerrin Jackson has been using Windex to clean her brushes and airbrush parts for more than a decade.
Windex is also a great cleanser for cars, says Deidre Fisher, owner of Simply Bliss Cleaning in Salt Lake City, Utah. Use it on window and mirror smudges, on dashboards, the steering wheel and any plastic and leather surface.
9. Cleaning Patio Furniture and Outdoor Surfaces
âThey make light work of breaking down the alcohol-based makeups and heavy-duty body makeup products that can sometimes be stubborn and difficult to clean from the inner workings of the airbrush parts,â Jackson says.
âAll we need to do is to spritz some in front of the objects we want to move before pushing the item,â Linden says. Heâs then able to easily move that piece of furniture to its place.
Itâs also great for cleaning the screens and dials. âI just recommend spraying the cloth first and not the electronics directly,â Fisher says.
You thought Windex only worked on glass? Linden says heâll often spray Windex onto small stains, leaving it for 20 minutes to soak. Then he wipes right off the furniture.
Use Windex on your exhaust fans and range hoods in your kitchen, suggests Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, president of ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba, a cleaning company in Chicago.