So what is the purpose of adding glycerin? Is it a soap itself or is it ised to inhance the soap you ise? What are the effects your going for when adding it?
It slows down the evaporation rate of your cleaning solution and adds some slip also.
Henry
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Isnt the cleaningp/stain removing capabilities the purpose of adding glycerin to soaps.
In my opinion, it turns glide into super glide, which is great for large glass surfaces. Also, a property we want is “Viscosity”. Now, soap is what adds that. But I believe glycerin adds to that lift and float. I deal with a lot of sand. It’s not fun to clean, it’s tedious; and the junk can get caught up in equipment. Since I don’t have a WFP, I flood wash said surfaces with water and a feather tip brush, twice. Then I bring in the cocktail. Glycerin helps float what’s left, and is nicely removed by the squeegee. Just my preference. I actually got the glycerin idea from a Brit video. And, while no chemist, I love experimenting. If I need quicker evaporation, enter de-natured alcohol and/or Acetone. This is used on colder or shady surfaces. Pull, evaporate to nothing, that’s what I look for. If I have greasy streaking, enter, Ammonia. All cheap ingredients. All blended to suite situations with neglected glass, or clean, speedy cleaned glass. Jus’ sayin. That’s why I are a perfessional.
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Im curious have you experimented with tsp?
Also what section of walmart do they carry glycerine?
Do you happen to know what was added to ammonia to make sudsy ammonia?
Toiletries/ Makeup - Can’t 'member. A staff from that section will help you locate it, or ask at a register. I know it was in an odd place. Enjoy the experiment, start with 3 drops, or you will have a greasy nightmare. 
Free tip, don’t use sudsy ammonia. Use regular and add your own soap…just sayin’.
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You guys have me wondering. I use Dawn, I don’t know- works for me. Sometimes i put ammonia in for restaurants, but I don’t like how much faster it will evaporate. Especially in the sun and 10-20mph wind. I have seen these products you can put in your water to reduce that from happening. I am just set in my ways and if it’s drying too quick I might just have too much soap in my bucket, lol!
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Yes, ammonia is alkaline. It will dry and leave a deposit. Use at the rate of 1/2 cup per gallon. In wind, less is more. Water with less soap. But, glycerin will also slow drying. Also found glycerin at wally world is of all places near where Vaseline is. People keep the shelf stripped because they make homemade soap. Cheers to all and Happy New Year.
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Bulk Apothecary has glycerin by the gallon at around fifteen bux a jug. I bought a five gallon pail once so I could make up the SKRUB product. It is great for making your own hard water stain removal compounds. Real cheap!!! And if you are looking for the best superabrasives to use I will key you into what these are and where to get them. Of course much of this info is already on the Glass Smart blog. But not all of it.
Henry
@Henry and @LoveGlass, have either of you noticed a film showing up more than what soap leaves on the glass from glycerin? I like the slip ammonia gives bit don’t like the affect to my lungs so I want to try something else…though it would be good to use on rainy days to help with evaporation.
I have added Sorbo Glide to my water year round. Tried several slip solutions. In my opinion - this is the best.
I tried GG3 and 4 multiple times thinking there has to be something special about this stuff and always go back to my
" First Love " Ms. Dawn.
Amazon isn’t always the most inexpensive. They are charging almost what Bulk A wants for four times the amount. I would just get a five gallon pail for the year. Glycerin should leave a bit more of a film. Sorbo Glide is based on a nonionic surfactant. These do have a tendency to leave more of a film than Dawn which is based on two anionics. Technically there are five surfactant families. WDW has it right IMO. And that is a real cool link too. I mean really cool. I like Dawn too. And Sorbo’s product might be based on a superwetting nonionic. I am rather sure that is what my Cheetah was based on. So a silicon chemistry not a carbon. Siltech IS the company for silicon based surfactants. I totally love talking with their chemists. The latest superwetter I fell in love with was an anionic. So a silicon based anionic surfactant/detergent. Siltech calls it their Silphos A100. It does leave slightly more of a film than Dawn. And will streak because of this on very hot glass. But if used at normal temperature at very low concentrations ( only five percent that of Dawn ) it works very well, does not streak, has adequate suds and glide, and leaves a real special shine. What I do want to do is test sodium laurel sulfate against sodium lauereth sulfate. Side by side. Same concentration. Bulk A sells each one. It could be that one is better for us than the other. If that is true than we would have a better product than Dawn. I just want to come up with my own cleaning blend so when people ask me what I use I can say it is my own formula based on a silicone saop. You can’t buy it. It leaves a bright shine on the glass. So I call it High Shine Window Cleaning Concentrate based on a silicone surfactant. People always want to think we are using something special anyway.
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@Henry haha, that is true that everyone wants to believe we want to use something special! It would be good marketing to say we are.
My main concern with more a film would be a faster accumulation of debries on the windows between cleanings. Since Glycerin is oil based (may be a bit off in understanding here) I am guessing debries will stick to the windows more? Or, is that a trade off with anything that lowers surface tension in the solution because the squeegee isn’t able to clear it off the glass as well? (I’m guessing it’s that extra bit of film that allows the squeegee to glide so well?)
I’m a cleaning background guy, and no chemist like Henry. Respects Henry…too complicated for me. I stated I found Glycerin at Wally’s World, I tried to find it the other day and could not. They want to sell products from vendors…not ingredients to make your own. So, now, the 3 dollar bottle of Glycerin I do have is obsolete, and I too will have to source this somewhere else. But…I also use Glass Plus. I dilute it, or full strength. I source it at the grocery store and it’s cheap at less than 3 bucks a quart. It is a non ammonia product and probably has non-ionic surfactants. They did change their recipe and it’s not the same as it used to be. About film, yeah it probably leaves a film. But I also add alcohol to my solutions…more fumes… I add it to aid evaporation. Don’t be afraid to try your own mixtures. I do feel Ammonia has good purpose and results with glass cleaning. Ammonia base products are plentiful. It’s a cheap manufacture. Look for products that are non ammonia based. Find one you like and continue the great experiment. We all do it…looking for that perfect blend and product. I do, and mix what works for me based on thirty years of experience cleaning all kinds of stuff. I once cleaned a kitchen ceiling full of bacon grease. I used ammonia, it took about 10 minutes and I charged 30 dollars to do it. I told the customer they were paying for my knowledge, not the labor. So it is with our window cleaning. The great experiment continues…for me and you too. Find YOUR alternative. Buy stuff, experiment, and don’t get hurt. 
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Interesting that you put alcohol in your mix. I will have to give that and glycerin a try! Also, Idk if you have tried the Wal-Mart app, but it shows you what is in stock on what isle as a search option. My Wal-Mart still has it so maybe they moved it at yours?
Ahhh yes. The great experiment! Reminds me of the old song by Styx grand illusion. I do agree with you. It is kind of like a womans perfume. Personal choice. I also agree with the idea that the film gives us more slip. I got one customer that would run me through with my own squeegee if I used anything other than Dawn. Rock on guys with the great experiment. One more thing. I do love you Love. But I am no chemist. Just a demented old window cleaner.
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