Gutter cleaning techniques
Cleaning gutters is the biannual task that not many people like or quite know how to do. Cleaning should typically take place in both spring and fall.
Some people may not realize that not cleaning gutters can cause foundation damage and potentially devalue your home. When gutters get dirty or jammed, rainwater fails to be funneled down into drains. This causes the rainwater to spill out and run down the side of the walls of your home and onto the topsoil, which can destabilize your foundation.
Thankfully, cleaning your gutters can be done successfully without professional help.
Equipment you need to clean gutters
Any professional gutter cleaner will tell you that the first thing you need is the right equipment and, most importantly, the right strategy. This means dressing in appropriate coveralls, wearing a pair of thick protective gloves, having a ladder on hand, and having the correct tools for each phase of the job.
Next, your strategy should be to identify any corners where the drainage systems could get blocked and determine a clockwise route so that you can successfully clear your gutters. This includes identifying where your ladder should be placed so that you can remove large and small debris onto a large tarp below. Having an appropriate set of disposal bags or a dump-and-collect system is also a top tip.
How to clean your gutters efficiently and effectively
Step #1: Preparation
Your first step should be to put on your protective clothing, including suitable coveralls, boots, thick protective gloves and safety goggles to protect your eyes. This health and safety mindset should apply to all elements of the gutter cleaning process.
Next, you need to set up your workspace. Set up your ladder on solid level ground and check to make sure it’s configured for safety and stability. Having a partner who can hold or monitor the ladder is always a good idea.
Spread the tarp along the ground to collect the debris that will soon be raining down when you get to work. It’s best to work in a clockwise system, so starting at the far right of your backyard and working across and around or vice versa is optimal to make sure you don’t miss any spots and have a consistent dumping method onto the tarp below.
Step #2: Clear large blockages and debris
When you climb the ladder, it’s best practice to survey the drainage system, identifying any clusters or patterns of large or small debris, leaves or twigs.
Carefully remove the large trash in your reach by hand or with the aid of a specialized brush. Make sure that significant debris lands safely on the tarp below.
Step #3: Remove smaller blockages
Cleaning small debris is a critical step. Most people don’t realize that small debris such as twigs, branches and leaves can clog the gutter system inside the hard-to-reach drainage pipe. So, while gutters may look clean, they could be dangerously clogged.
Working on the assumption that all the large debris has been swept away, it’s time to use your scoop. The scoop should remove all visible dirt, debris, twigs and leaves from the gutter. Again you can dispose of the waste onto the tarp below safely by ensuring that at least one hand stays on the stabilized ladder. The scoop should work as far as your hand can go while remaining in a safe and stable position on the ladder.
The next step will be to flush the gutters out with a hose pipe, pressure washer or gutter wand. Completing this step ensures that all acceptable debris is swept away. It’s best practice to aim the hose pipe in the direction of your drainage system and consistently move in said direction on your ladder, making sure all remaining debris is flushed out of the irrigation paths.
Step #4: Clean up and perform any additional maintenance
Once you’ve flushed the gutters, it’s time to clean up and complete any additional maintenance chores.
At this stage, your tarp should be full of large debris, twigs, leaves and branches. The waste should be treated in the most environmentally friendly way possible — add it to your compost heap, offer it to a friend for their compost needs or bring it to your local waste disposal unit.
You’re going to want to make sure that you recheck and re-clear your downspouts. This means setting up the ladder and aiming your hose down the drainage pipe, ensuring that it doesn’t fill up too quickly, indicating a blockage.
Next, you want to make sure that your gutters are firm and not sloping to one side. You may need to adjust your gutter hangers if so, making sure that water flows to the downspout.
Finally, ensure there are no apparent blockages, impediments or potential leaks in any of the irrigation systems. The most common type of issue that homeowners experience is cracked pipes or even displaced pipes. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue, however. PVC guns can be used to correct or reattach pipes, and it’s pretty simple to do.
Best gutter cleaning tools
Best leaf blower attachment for gutter cleaning
Black + Decker Gutter Clean Attachment: available at Amazon
If you’ve got a leaf blower for maintaining the lawn, this attachment fits onto most brands of blowers to allow efficient cleaning of your gutters with the very same tool.
Best pressure washer attachment for gutter cleaning
Twinkle Star Pressure Washer Gutter Cleaner Attachment: available at Amazon
Power hose sprays aren’t always optimal for gutter cleaning, but this five-piece set contains different spray attachments to suit all stages of your gutter cleaning process with a power washer.
Best manual gutter cleaning tool
Chomp Gutter Smop Gutter Cleaner Attachment: available at Amazon
If you prefer to go old school, this microfiber attachment is designed to easily remove debris and buildup from your gutters. You might want to add some specialized gutter wash formula into the mix for a truly effective clean.
Lauren Farrell is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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