Are you looking to clean your gutters but aren’t quite sure how to do it? Cleaning your gutters is an important part of home maintenance.
Plus, cleaning your gutters is a relatively straightforward process. Check out this post to learn the easiest way to clean gutters.
Related: How Much Will Gutter Cleaning Cost?
Why Clean Your Gutters?
Before we talk about the “how” of cleaning your gutters, let’s talk about the “why.” Here are the main reasons you should regularly clean your gutters:
Prevent Damage to Your Roof
Clogged gutters can obstruct water flow, causing an overflow of rainwater. The overflowing water will eventually lead to roof damage and may result in extensive repairs.
If you don’t nip the problem in the bud quickly, you may need to overhaul your entire roofing system. Cleaning your gutters regularly can prevent this from happening.
Protect the Value of Your Home
Clogged gutters can affect the aesthetic value of your home. If you intend to sell your home, less aesthetic appeal can cause the monetary value of your home to drop.
By cleaning and repairing your gutters, you’ll be able to boost your home’s curb appeal and attract more buyers before listing it.
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Prevent Damage to Your Home’s Foundation
Cleaning your gutters is also important for preventing damage to the foundation of your home. Gutters are designed to collect rainwater and move it away from the vital parts of your home.
When your gutters overflow, water can drip too close to the foundation of your home and compromise its stability.
Keep Pests at Bay
When debris accumulates in gutters, it makes them an enticing home for rodents, pests, and other creatures. Pest infestations can be a health hazard to your family, and an infestation can lead to damage to your home.
Cleaning your gutters will eliminate any potential homes for pests.
How to Clean Your Gutters
Now that you understand the importance of cleaning your gutters, let’s talk about how to clean them. Here are the steps you need to take:
Gather the Right Supplies
Here are some of the supplies you might need:
- A sturdy ladder
- A plastic scoop for removing dirt
- Ladder mitts to protect the house
- Gutter pole and
- Push broom and dustpan
Also, remember to dress appropriately for the job. You should wear a long-sleeved shirt, work pants, and rubber gloves.
Cleaning the Gutter Using a Ladder
Make sure to place your ladder in a proper, safe position. When standing on a ladder, you should work at chest height with your body facing the house.
You’ll then want to use a gutter pole and gutter scoop to pull the debris toward you. Gather the debris into piles, ensuring you’re only reaching as far as you’re comfortable. If you reach too far, you risk falling off the ladder or injuring yourself.
If you don’t have the option to use a pole or there’s simply too much debris in the ladder, feel free to use gloves.
If you’re cleaning your gutter under wet conditions, it’s best to remove the majority of the debris by hand. If there’s any leftover, you can attach a balled-up rag to a pole to remove the rest. Push the rag alongside the inside of the gutter to pull the debris with it.
To ensure debris doesn’t slide down the downspout, stop a few inches short of the downspout and remove as much gutter debris as you can using your hands. Also, make sure you keep a bucket handy for falling debris.
Cleaning the Gutter by Standing or Sitting on the Roof
Another option is to clean your gutter by sitting or standing on the roof. To do this, you’ll need to climb your ladder and walk along the edge of the roof. You can use a pole and a gutter scooper to gather the debris into piles.
Once the gutters are cleaned, you can place all of the debris piles in a bucket. Be careful to not let your bucket get too full, as this will make it harder to carry down the ladder. If you’re not comfortable climbing the ladder with a bucket, you can leave the bucket on the ground and toss the debris into it.
To maintain a strong center of gravity while clearing debris, sit with your legs crossed.
If you want to clean your gutters by standing on your roof, keep in mind that you should only do this in a dry environment. While standing, walk along your roof with a leaf blower and blow the debris out into your yard. While this option takes the least amount of time, it won’t work in wet conditions.
Are you looking for gutter cleaning services near you? If so, check out our locations!
How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?
Knowing when to clean your gutters is also important. Generally speaking, you should clean your gutters three times a year, in the summer, spring, and fall. Keep your eyes out for signs you need to clean your gutters, including:
- Rainwater is overflowing from the gutters.
- The gutter is sagging.
- There’s staining along the siding of your home.
- There’s standing water near the foundation of your home.
- Creatures are crawling into your gutters and birds are flocking to them.
- Plants are growing in your gutters.
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Time to Clean Your Gutters
Now that you how to clean your gutters, it’s time to get started. Of course, there’s an even easier way to clean your gutters: hire a professional to do it for you.
With a professional gutter cleaning service, you don’t have to waste time or worry about jeopardizing your own safety.
If you’re looking to hire a professional gutter cleaning service in the Austin or Dallas, Texas, area, click here to get a free estimate!
