What Is the Best Way To Clean My Gutters?

Gutter cleaning is not very glamorous but is a necessary chore in the maintenance of any home. Aside from the unsightly appearance of clumps of soggy leaves in your gutter, blocked gutters can lead to a range of other problems including ice dams, water seepage, and broken guttering. So, you ask, “what is the best way to clean my gutters?”

The good news is that it’s a pretty simple job and shouldn’t take long.

Before You Get Started Cleaning Your Gutters

Choose your weather. Though most would not opt to clean their gutters in the rain, it’s essential to choose a dry day for this job for the practicality. Dry leaves are much easier to work with than wet ones.

Gather all your materials and take a few moments to set yourself up properly. This will make the job run smoother and quicker. Wear latex gloves under your work gloves to protect your hands and to keep them dry. Seamless gutters, or any gutter system without guards will be messy.

Stay as low as possible on the ladder, using a step ladder where possible. Any job that involves heights and ladders is potentially hazardous. If you’re not comfortable working at heights, get somebody else to clean your gutters. Be wary of overhead power lines.

Hook your bucket around the ladder, so both your hands are free. While you’re up there, inspect your gutter for any signs of damage or wear and tear that may need to be assessed and repaired. Better to notice it now than in the middle of a winter storm!

To Clean Your Cutters:

Have your materials ready: A ladder, trowel, bucket, work gloves, and hose. Start at the downspout, cleaning out the larger loose twigs and leaves first.Next, take your trowel and get to work on those tightly packed clumps of leaves. Once all large debris has been removed, hose down the whole gutter and downspout, flushing out any remaining waste. If your downspout is clogged, push the hose down it to flush it out. If this doesn’t work, use a plumber’s snake to push out any blockages. If you have a drain tile, be sure to clear this of debris and give it a good hose down as well to keep the drainage area free of blockages.

Next Time:

Unless you look forward to the task of cleaning your gutters, we suggest investing in some gutter guards. Suitable for any home, gutter guards can be fitted to both K-Style and Half-round gutters, collecting the debris in one place and allowing water to flow freely through the channel. More importantly, gutter guards make next year’s gutter cleaning a much quicker job.

If you have any questions about gutter cleaning or gutter repairs, contact the roofing experts at Authentic Restoration. We’d be happy to answer your questions.