Roof Gutter Cleaning

While DIYers have come up with many creative ways to clean gutters from the ground, there are a few popular methods that can be performed using store-bought attachments for tools you likely already own. Each method consists of the same basic principle: Using an extension attachment to clean the gutters while standing safely on the ground. 

1. Leaf Blower Method

Several companies sell leaf blower attachments for cleaning gutters from the ground. The attachments consist of a long pipe with a curved end. This allows the user to place the end into the gutter and blow the debris out of the gutter and onto the yard. This method is preferred for gutters with heavy debris such as twigs, packed leaves, and dirt, though you’ll be left with quite a mess on the ground once the gutters are cleared. 

2. Wet/Dry Vacuum Method

A wet/dry vacuum extension, much like the leaf blower extension, allows the user to vacuum the gutters from the ground. Additionally, this tool can be used to blow out the gutters, as many wet/dry vacs are reversible. This method is great for mild debris like dry leaves and minimal dirt, but twigs and heavy debris can easily clog the vacuum hose and attachment. 

3. Hose Method

Like the leaf blower and vacuum attachments, water hose attachments are also widely available. These extensions allow the user to spray out the gutters using a standard water hose. The hose method is effective for cleaning out dirt and mild debris but is better utilized as a secondary form of cleaning the gutters once the bulk of the debris has been removed.

4. Pressure Washer Method

For more heavy-duty gutter cleaning needs, a pressure washer attachment is available. The extension wand allows the user to blast debris from the gutter without leaving the ground. This method is best for heavy debris with packed dirt and leaves as well as for clearing clogged downspouts. Just remember to wear work clothes and safety goggles, as you’re sure to get messy in the process. 

Clogged rain gutters can damage your home’s foundation and interior. Learn how to clear your gutters of dirt and debris—with or without a ladder.

Of all the necessary evils that make up a comprehensive fall yard maintenance routine, cleaning the gutters may be the most dreaded of all. Tedious though this task is, homeowners are wise not to neglect it. Properly functioning gutters, after all, ensure that storm water does not find its way indoors.

Of all the necessary evils that make up a comprehensive fall yard maintenance routine, cleaning the gutters may be the most dreaded of all. Tedious though this task is, homeowners are wise not to neglect it. Properly functioning gutters, after all, ensure that storm water does not find its way indoors.

Learning how to clean gutters isn’t difficult and with proper precautions in place, is safe. There is a variety of ways to get those leaves out of the gutters before they clog and lead to gutter damage, and there’s no one best way for every homeowner. Some folks don’t like using power washers, and others don’t want their feet to leave the ground in the process. The best way to clean gutters is to use a safe, effective method you’re comfortable with.

Why It’s Important to Clean Your Home’s Gutters

Gutters serve the vital purpose of collecting the rain that falls on the roof and diverting it through downspouts away from the home’s foundation. Without gutters, water that falls near the foundation could leaks through windows, or seep into a basement or crawlspace.

Rain gutters typically require very little upkeep to function well, other than keeping them free of debris. Gutters that are filled with leaves can lead to clogged downspouts, which cause water to spill out over the top of the gutter channel and fall to the ground below. Worse, winter’s melt and freeze cycles can cause snow on the roof to melt into the gutter and freeze there. These ice-filled gutters are sometimes so heavy that they detach from the roof.