Seven Easy Steps to Cleaning Your Home's Gutters

March 04, 2010

While there are plenty of options these days for cleaner gutters, from gutter guards to gutter robots, some homeowners still prefer to take care of their gutters the old fashioned way. Cleaning out your home's rain gutters may not be a fun task, or a clean one, but it doesn't have to be complicated. Follow these simple steps and find yourself finished with this chore in about an hour.

1. Be prepared. Make sure you have a ladder that supports your weight, a hose with a spray nozzle attachment, and a helper. You'll also need a garden claw (the preferred tool of gutter cleaning pros), and you may prefer to use work gloves and safety goggles.
2. Steady the ladder on a level surface near the base of the gutter. If the ground is not level, use a two-by-four or ladder support. Have your helper hold the ladder while you climb up. Climb almost to the top, until you can see down inside the gutter.
3. Scoop out debris toward you, using your hands or the garden claw. It's usually easiest to do this when the debris is damp rather than dry. Remove debris at the top and bottom of the gutters.
4. Choose your method for dealing with the debris. You can either scoop the debris into a bag, or lay a tarp on the ground to toss the debris onto. If you like, you can save the debris to use as compost in your garden or yard.
5. Have your helper pass the hose--carefully--up the ladder, then use the spray nozzle attachment to spray inside the gutters. Make sure there are no clogs or blockages.
6. Continue this process as you work your way down the length of your home's gutter system.
7. You can use this opportunity to install gutter screens or gutter guards. These may help in the process of keeping your gutters clear of blockage, but won't completely eliminate the need to clean your gutters. However, you may be able to get away with doing so only a couple of times a year with these helpers.

Cleaning your home's gutters is essential to avoid problems like flooding, rodent or insect infestation, and even foundation damage to your home. Most homeowners don't love the process, but take satisfaction in caring for their homes. Using the common-sense steps outlined above can make the process of cleaning your home's gutters simple and painless.

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