‘Squeegee Guy’ makes sure you have clear view

What does a college-educated guy, fluent in Japanese and with a military background, paralegal certification, work history in more than 50 jobs, including draftsman and film production assistant, choose as a career? Window cleaning, of course!

Fifty-four-year-old Kim Long, aka the “Squeegee Guy,” has traveled extensively and tried more than his share of professions, but finds cleaning glass in North Idaho his calling. Long’s crisp appearance in his overalls and white cap foretells of his attention to detail. Using his own cleaning formula and basic tools, he makes windows shine, then applies a water-repelling polish to keep them that way. He also repairs screens, cleans sills and trim and removes labels and grime.

Residing in Coeur d’Alene with his “significant other,” Beth Clemens, Indiana-born Long’s other identity is “Max Long, Magical Entertainer and Bonafide Balloonatic,” performing in various venues. He teaches “Window Cleaning 101,” “Magic for Kids,” “Japanese for Beginners” and “Let ‘Em Hear You Smile” (a telephone etiquette seminar), at the North Idaho Workforce Training Center.

What is your job title? “The Squeegee Guy, Expert Window Cleaner Since ‘03.”

How did you choose this line of work? “I wanted to be self-employed; to operate a business which would require little investment capital, a small inventory of supplies and could be managed from a corner of our basement. Happily, my friend, Lin Rimple, formerly the best window cleaner in Coeur d’Alene, offered to teach me the window-cleaning business and her tricks of the trade.”

Are you paid: (a) well; (b) more than you are worth; (c) slave wages, (d) could be better? “I’m paid very well. Basically, I am a manual laborer who provides a premium grade of ‘elbow grease.’ My reputation is founded on punctuality and an acute attention to detail. Today, most new clients hire me based on the word-of-mouth praise from their friends and neighbors.”

What is the best thing about your job? “(1) The autonomy of scheduling my work assignments. (2) My work environment. My office is outdoors, all year-round.”

What is the worst thing about your job? “Like most service-related business people, I must travel to every job site. If a genie granted me one wish, I’d ask to have my clients’ storefronts and homes magically teleported to my backyard.”

Do you plan on doing this job (a) until retirement; (b) until something better comes along? “I gladly foresee remaining the ‘Squeegee Guy’ for many, many years. My line of work has a lot of benefits. Of those, my favorite is the diversity of friendly people for whom I work.”

Do you have any on-the-job funny stories? “On of the highest ‘indirect’ compliments that I’ve received was when after I had cleaned a slider door, the man of the house walked full-steam, head-on into the ‘invisible’ pane of glass.”

Any bad experiences? “During that first winter, while I was working outside at storefronts along Sherman Avenue, my numb fingertips began to ache from handling an icy-cold squeegee handle. I’ve since learned to carry a hotter water solution in January!”

If there was a movie made about you and your job, what actor should play you and why? “The lead actor would have to be a slapstick comedian. He’d have to slide up and down ladders like a monkey, hang from ceilings like a spider and crawl through bushes like a cat. I’d cast the great silent movie comedian Buster Keaton.”