Eco-friendly glass cleaner: concentrates, tablets and microfiber

What to look for on the label

• Ammonia-free: the product does not contain ammonia. Some people prefer this for car windows with tint, and for strong smell. Check your car or screen manufacturer's advice before cleaning tinted film or coated screens.
• Streak-free: a marketing claim. Results depend on the glass, the water and the cloth.
• Fragrance-free: helpful if scent bothers you.
• Eco claims: general words say little. Look for specific, supported claims.
• Surfaces: check that the cleaner is made for the surface, such as mirrors, windows or screens. Electronic screens often have their own cleaning instructions.

Ready-to-use, concentrate or tablet

Ready-to-use sprays are the easiest to compare by price per ounce. Concentrates and tablets are diluted at home, so they usually cost less per finished ounce and use less packaging, as long as you follow the dilution directions. Keep the original spray bottle, and label it if you refill.

Our angle: the cloth is half the job

Many streaks come from the cloth or from cleaning in direct sun, not from the liquid. A clean, lint-free microfiber cloth, or a dry cloth for a final buff, can help more than switching products. Reusable cloths cost more at first and replace paper towels, so count them in. To compare, work out the cost of a cleaning session, including the liquid you use and the cloth cost spread over many washes, rather than only the price per bottle.

1. Work out the finished ounces per container.
2. Divide the price by that number.
3. Add the cost per use of the cloth, compared with paper towels.

Buying tips

• Start with one small bottle or a few tablets.
• Wash microfiber cloths without fabric softener, which can leave residue.
• Do not mix glass cleaner with other cleaning products.
• Keep products out of reach of children and pets.