Shower, Bath, Window & Glass Spray

🌱 A simple acidic spray for clear, streak-free glass

When water evaporates, it doesn’t disappear cleanly. It leaves behind dissolved minerals that cling to glass and scatter light, which is what creates that dull, cloudy look. Spraying more cleaner over the top doesn’t fix this - it often makes it worse by spreading the residue around.

That’s why this recipe uses the same acidic base spray you’ll see repeated across several DIY cleaning solutions. The chemistry is doing the same job each time — lowering pH so mineral residue can release from the surface and be wiped away cleanly. When the residue is removed properly, glass dries clear without streaks or effort.

What this spray is

This is an acidic base spray. It’s the same base used for:

Window and glass spray
Shower screen spray
Light descaling sprays

The purpose of this spray is very specific. It’s designed to dissolve mineral residue, not to remove grease, oils, or heavy grime. When mineral residue is dissolved properly, glass can dry clear instead of hazy or streaked.

What it’s used for

This spray works best on:

Windows
Mirrors
Glass doors
Glass tabletops
Light mineral haze on shower glass

It’s ideal for glass that looks dull or streaky but doesn’t feel greasy. If the surface feels slick, sticky, or visibly dirty, that residue needs to be removed first before this spray will do its job properly.

If windows or glass are very dirty

If the glass has visible grime, fingerprints, outdoor residue, or a greasy film, an acidic spray on its own won’t give good results. That layer needs to be removed first.

In this case, clean the surface with a soap-based spray, such as your Multi-Purpose Spray, to lift oils and residue. Once the glass is clean, follow with the acidic window and glass spray as a finishing step. This two-step approach prevents streaking and stops residue from being spread around the surface.

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Recipe & Instructions

This is the same acidic base recipe used across multiple cleaning solutions, because the function is the same each time.

Ingredients

2 cups white vinegar or citric acid solution*
Optional: 5–10 drops essential oils

* Citric acid solution:
Mix 1 teaspoon citric acid powder with 500 ml warm water.

Makes

Approximately 500ml spray

Method

Add the vinegar or citric acid solution directly to a spray bottle.
Add essential oils if using.
Secure the lid and shake gently to combine.

Important Notes

Do not add soap, washing soda, bleach or percarbonate to this spray

How to use it

Spray lightly onto the glass surface.
Wipe with a clean, dry microfibre cloth.
Buff dry rather than letting the spray air-dry.

Using less spray gives better results. Over-spraying is one of the most common reasons glass streaks.

Frequently Asked Question

Can I use vinegar and citric acid together in a window and glass spray?
You can, but there’s no benefit. Both vinegar and citric acid lower pH to dissolve mineral residue left behind when water dries on glass. Using them together doesn’t make the spray stronger — it just duplicates the same function and wastes ingredients.

Is cleaning vinegar the same as food-grade vinegar?
They do a similar job, but they’re not the same product. Cleaning vinegar is often made from synthetic acetic acid and isn’t food-grade. Standard white vinegar from the food aisle is perfectly adequate and more appropriate for regular household glass cleaning.

Can I add soap to this spray to make it stronger?
No. Soap is alkaline and this spray is acidic. When combined, they neutralise each other and often leave a film on glass, which leads to streaking.

If soap is needed, it should be used as a separate step first, followed by the acidic spray.

Why does my glass still streak sometimes?
Streaking usually comes down to technique rather than the recipe. Too much spray, residue already on the surface, or letting the spray air-dry are the most common causes. A light spray and a dry cloth usually fix the problem immediately.

How long does the spray keep once made?
Stored in a sealed bottle, this spray keeps well for months. If separation occurs, simply shake before use.

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