Basic Guide to Cleaning Gutters

Gutters must be clear and free of debris and leaves to be effective. You can hire someone else to clean your gutters, but doing it yourself can save you a hundred dollars or more. Ideally, it's best to clean your gutters at least twice a year, typically in the spring and the fall. If your gutters are right underneath trees, you may have to do this more often to keep everything working smoothly. If you can only manage this task once per year, it is best to do it after the leaves stop falling in the autumn.

First, get a safe, sturdy ladder and stand it on level ground. A tall stepladder may be easier to balance on than an extension ladder.

Safety must always come first when cleaning your gutters. Only attempt this job under safe conditions. Avoid wet, windy, or icy days and wear comfortable, slip-resistant shoes. Heavy work gloves will protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris that may be sticking out from the gutters. Wearing safety goggles or glasses may also be helpful.

You can use a regular garden trowel to scrape out loose debris, starting at the drain outlet of your gutter. To make cleanup easier, you can toss the debris into a plastic garbage bag. You can also enlist an assistant to help you catch all of the debris. If you come across caked-on dirt or other stubborn buildup, it may be helpful to wait until after a rainfall when the dirt is softened up a bit.

After removing the debris, use your garden hose to rinse out the gutter, working toward the drain outlet. Work carefully, as this step can lead to dirty water dripping onto the side of your house. If you don't have a hose available, you can still clean your gutters. Just wait for the next rainstorm to clear out the gutters naturally.

If the water does not drain through your drainpipes, you can utilize water pressure from the garden hose to flush them away. If this does not work, use a plumber's snake to pull out the debris from the bottom. This prevents you from packing the clog in further from the top.

To avoid this chore altogether, homeowners might be interested in installing protective guards made of metal or plastic screens. These guards keep grime out of the gutters, but can also trap them on top of the guard. Solid shields often cost more money, but come across most of the gutter and allow water to roll in while keeping foreign materials out. Even the most inexperienced handyman (or woman) can easily order and install a gutter guard. Dozens of models are on the market now and can help homeowners eliminate this task.