It wasn’t the phrase “I don’t do garbage disposals” that became the mantra of every self-respecting housecleaner.
Somehow, windows earned that infamous bias.
But these days the chore has lost some of its stigma, and most refusals to “do windows” come from devoted Apple computer users.
Enter the Glass Wizard from Ontel Products Corp., a tool that not only does windows, it does mirrors, showers and windshields, too.
At first glance, the Glass Wizard looks like a miniature ironing board on a stick. The head is a soft, wedge- shaped paddle that pivots on a narrow plastic handle with a cushy, foam grip.
Glass Wizard comes with two reusable “cleaning bonnets” that slip snuggly over the head. The bonnets are reversible. Once one side suffers its share of fingerprints and paw smears, simply flip to the bonnet’s fresh side without missing a stroke. The set also comes with a mesh, “grime-buster” bonnet, which is basically a glass- friendly scrubber. This is the go-to cover for bug guts and bird mess on the windshield.
The Glass Wizard works pretty much like a paint roller, using up-and-down and side-to-side strokes. Although the user can employ a cleaning agent, the instructions suggest simply spraying dirty surfaces with water before each use. But be sure to spray lightly because any more than a mist will lead to streaks.
The bonnets are machine-washable, making the Glass Wizard an economical and Earth-friendly alternative to paper towels. There are also more immediate advantages. The wide head helps reduce the smears that rags can leave behind. And the handle attaches to most standard threaded poles for getting at hard-to-reach areas.
The head seems to grip surfaces like a magnet, which makes its operation a bit awkward at first, but the results are worth the effort. Just one last tip: Depending on the regularity of your cleaning cycle, you may want extra bonnets because they do soil quickly.
The Glass Wizard is about $10 at select Bed Bath and Beyond and Linens ‘N Things stores, and online at .
