How Do You Clean Gutters?

While there are many joys that come with owning a home, most homeowners would agree that having to clean out their gutters is not one of them. This chore can be messy, smelly, and dangerous, but it is also an extremely important task for ensuring that your gutter system is in good working order. As the old saying goes, “it’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it.” So, while you may not jump for joy when it comes time to get up on the ladder and scrape out months’ worth of leaves and muck, it would greatly behoove you to at least know what you are doing.

General Tips

As far as frequency goes, cleaning your gutters twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall—should be adequate. If, however, you have plenty of large trees over your home that drop a good amount of leaves, branches, acorns, etc. down into your gutters, you might need to do it more, perhaps three or four times throughout the year. It is also easier—and much more pleasant—to clean your gutters while the stuff inside of them is dry. So, if there is a big storm in the forecast, it may be wise to clean your gutters out before the storm hits.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need a sturdy, stable ladder that is tall enough for you to easily reach your gutters without having to stretch or dangle. You’ll also need a bucket with a handle that can hook onto your ladder to collect the debris you pull out of the gutters. If you don’t have a bucket, or if your ladder doesn’t have a built-in hook, you can simply spread a tarp on the ground and drop the debris down onto the tarp. If doing this, do not set the ladder on the tarp, but spread the tarp out next to the ladder. You will also need something to scrape the debris out of the gutter. Some people like to use a gardening trowel, others prefer to clean their gutters by hand. If you choose to go the latter route, make sure you have a good pair of gloves.

Getting the Gunk Out

Start at the downspout and use your hands or the trowel to scrape out as much debris as possible, either placing it in the bucket or dropping it down onto the tarp. Once you’ve cleaned as much as you can from one spot, descend the ladder, move it over, and repeat this process until you’ve cleaned all your gutters. When you are finished, carefully climb the ladder with your garden hose and run water to flush out any stuck-on debris. This will also help to ensure that your downspouts are free from clogs.

Partner with Frey Construction

If you need to replace your gutter system, or would like to have gutter guards installed that can put an end to constantly having to clean your gutters, turn to the experts at Frey Construction. With more than 20 years of industry experience, we are the trusted home improvement professionals serving the Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, area. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation at your home and learn more about the products and services we offer.