Things You'll Need:
- Garden Hoses
- Garden Trowels
- Leaf Blowers
- Large Wooden Spoons
- Plastic Trash Bags
- Buckets
- Caulks
- Extension Ladders
- Gutter Scoops
- Plumber's Snakes
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Step 1
Gain access to the roof with a ladder. Don't lean the ladder against a downspout or gutter, which can easily bend or break.
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Step 2
Remove leaves and twigs from gutters by hand or with a large spoon, a gutter scoop or a small garden trowel.
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Step 3
Wet down caked-on dirt, which can be difficult to remove without damaging the gutter itself, then remove it with the gutter scoop or trowel.
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Step 4
Put debris in a bucket or plastic trash bag placed on the roof or ladder. If you use a bag, you can just drop it when it's full.
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Step 5
Check that the downspouts aren't clogged. Use water to unclog your downspouts by placing a garden hose in the opening. But be gentle at first; downspouts aren't designed to withstand the same pressure as a house drain. If a plugged downspout can't be cleared with a hose, use a small plumber's snake or an unbent clothes hanger. Again, be gentle. Gutters are not as strong as house pipes.
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Step 6
Alternatively, use a leaf blower to clean the gutters; however, remember that you'll be high up, often in awkward postures, and carrying a good-sized machine that not only is awkward to use but also can blind you with dust.
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Step 7
Use the hose to flush the gutters with water after cleaning. (This is also the best time to find out if there are any leaks in the system.)
Comments
jeank said
on 9/6/2009 Don't want to waste time, energy, or my safety, using the ole' fashion method of cleaning rain gutters. I've tried them all over the past 30 years and none performed satisfactorily. Now we use the Gutter Clutter Buster that vacuums out wet or dry debris from gutters while you stay firmly on the ground. Check out the web page at www.gutterclutterbuster.com and then you decide if you want to continue using ladders, risk getting hurt if you fall off the ladder or roof if you use a blower. Or even get wet from the water wand. We suggest you stay safe, stay well, stay dry, stay strong and do it faster.
collegecleaning said
on 5/5/2009 Well, I clean gutters professionally and although I mostly agree with this how to there is one exception. Instead of using a "spoon" or other tool, like the article says, to get the debris out of the gutters, you really aught to just put on a good pair of leather gloves and use your hand. Your already up on a ladder in an uncomfortable position with a giant bucket, the last thing you need is to try and manage another sharp clumsy tool when all it's going to do is make things more difficult for you anyhow! Good luck and be safe!.. If you listen to police and emergency scanners, you've probobally heard of "long falls". Thats when someone falls off their roof or ladder doing something like trying to clean their own gutters!... you can avoid it all by hiring someone like our company www.collegestudentcleaning.com keeping you safe after all!.. good luck.. Jonathan
Heatherrros said
on 1/20/2009 My gutters used to clog all the time with leaves and pine needles from all the trees around my house. my husband hated getting out the ladder and cleaning them. I finally installed a gutter guard so that we wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. It's called Gutterglove Gutterguard. It's has a stainless steel mesh on an aluminum frame. It looks and feels pretty heavy duty. I ordered it and installed it myself. I am so happy with the way it is preforming. We don't have to clean the gutters anymore. It was well worth the investment and I would recomend it to everyone!
guttercleaner said
on 1/20/2009 My father used to clean gutters with the pressure washer until he fell off the ladder. SInce then I've been using 24 FT telescoping wand (got it at http://www.ultimatewasher.com ) to reach 2nd story house. But this gadget certainly looks like it can do the same job quicker.
pachai said
on 9/23/2008 Shop Vac is great - but I use the exhaust - a non-gas leaf blower. Not as strong as a gas one,
but strong enough. Sears has gutter attachments for their shop vac. Be careful, it can blow you off the ladder.