Cleaning the inside windshield (old man problem)

Invisible Glass Reach & Clean Tool Kit - Window & Windshield Cleaner - Walmart.com

 

Looks like same product, for $15 CDN at Canadian Tire:

Invisible Glass Reach and Clean Tool | Canadian Tire

I know, you're in the States, but comparison shop.

 

I'd recommend something of higher quality. Once you've used a proper set of towels, it's hard to go back.

Reacher Glass Kit - Reacher Tool & Smooth Glass Flip Towels — Autofiber

Just treat them right. Wash using either a detergent meant for microfiber towels(like Rags to Riches by P&S) or a dye and fragrance free detergent(like Tide Free and Gentle or anything like it). Cold or warm water, never hot. NEVER use fabric softener. Dry using lowest heat or air dry and then fluff in the dryer. Don't wash or dry them with anything that generates lint or you'll be sorry when you try using them to clean glass the next time. Storing them in a ziploc bag(or the bag they came in) will also help keep them lint and dust free.

While Sprayway Glass Cleaner isn't half bad for exterior glass(plus it's cheap), it's not great for the interior because of how messy it can be to use. Same for the spray can version of Invisible Glass. Koch Chemie's Glass Cleaner is extremely good, but it's rather spendy. I use Clarify(plain) by CarPro for my interior glass, and Clarify Phobic for my exterior glass. Both are also spendy, but I like sticking to one brand as much as possible and I like CarPro overall.

If you do decide on a cheaper, standard glass cleaner, just don't get discouraged if it seems like it just keeps smearing. The inside of car glass gets surprisingly dirty and greasy. Just keep flipping to a clean section of towel and keep cleaning until the glass stays clear.

 

On a side note, I recommend placing a drop cloth of sorts to catch any overspray from chemical cleaners.

 

I got these cool windshield magnets a few years ago and very impressed with them. If you look over their website, their cleaning tips are spot on.

Windshield WOW! Basic Set – Windshield Wow

 

looks similar to aquarium cleaning magnets: one inside, one outside. Hmm....

 

Yes, that's what they remind me of, too! Very strong magnets and get every inch inside the glass...handy with huge windshields. My daughter loves air fresheners in her cars but I notice an oily residue inside her windows all the time...probably from all that fragrance by-product.

 

OK. Im sold. I'm going to buy these for my house. We have walls of glass windows that are too tall to reach even on a ladder. But I can reach the bottom of them to get the magnet started.

 

The site said they weren't for home windows, because those are thicker than autoglass. So the magnets aren't strong enough.

 

Yeah typically double pane these days.

 

arrgh...well there goes that idea

 

I use a wand from Griots Garage for the windshield, works great for me.

 

Squeegees are available with various lengths of telescoping pole, and at different price and quality points. We bought an inexpensive one circa 1990 that has 3 telescoping sections and opens out to about 20 feet total length. It was the only way to get the outside of the back windows on our apartment clean, since the management never did them. This was one of those buildings where the apartment was over the garage, and we could stand in the driveway, open the pole out to 20 feet, and easily clean those windows. The only downside is that if the squeegee pole is nearly vertical it tends to drip down on the operator.

For instance, see the pictures of the telescoping poles at this site:

Trad poles in all lengths and sizes from all brands | J. Racenstein Co

Unexpectedly, this squeegee also came in very handy for removing toilet paper after a neighbor's house was TP'd. (It made no sense, old lady, no beefs with anybody.)