How to Clean Your Gutters Properly

Cleaning your gutters is important to maintaining your home. Here are some tips on how to clean your gutters.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ladder
• Gutter scoop
• Bucket Attachable to Ladder
• Handheld Blower
• Waterproof Gloves

1. If you have a handheld blower, you can blow off loose leaves and twigs. If you don't have a handheld blower, you can pick it up and dump in the bucket by hand.

2. If there is a lot of buildup, it might be easier to clean after a rainfall. You can wet it with a hose but you shouldn't use your hose alone to clean the gutters. You might end up tightly packing the debris in the downspouts.

3. Attach your bucket to the ladder. Make sure you always have at least one free hand to stay balanced.

4. Start near the downspout and use a gutter scoop to scoop up debris and transfer to your bucket.

5. After you cleaned off most of the debris, you can use your garden hose to hose off the gutters and allow water and excess debris to flow down downspouts.

Tips & Warnings

• Gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year.
• Make sure you pick a day that isn't too hot, cold or windy.
• Make sure you wear gloves to reduce the chances of injury.
• Stay safe and make sure your ladder is secure.

[sciencerocker]

on 9/30/2009 Nice will use next time I'm cleaning my gutters 5* + rec.

[godfather25]

on 9/28/2009 Great tips on cleaning gutters.