How To Clean Gutters

By: L. Rogers

Break Studios Contributing Writer

The following six steps will show you how to clean gutters. Water in your gutters can cause damage to your roof and walls of your home. It is important to maintain the condition of your gutters by keeping them as clean as possible, which will also keep your home in great shape.

To clean gutters you will need the following:

Plumbers snake
Gutter scoops
Garden hose
Garden trowels
Leaf blower
Large wooden spoons
Plastic trash bags
Buckets
Caulks
Extension ladder

Access roof with ladder. Do not lean the ladder against a gutter or downspout. They are not strong enough to hold the weight of a ladder. It would be more ideal to lean the ladder up against the side of the house. This will prevent you from without compromising the structure of your gutter or downspout.
Remove debris from roof. Get rid of any twigs or leaves from your roof. You can use your hand or choose to use a gutter scoop, large garden spoon or a garden trowel. Making sure the roof is cleared from any debris will make your job that much easier. Clear as much as you can to get a clean workspace.
Clean dirt from roof. Wet any dirt embedded on your roof to soften it up. This can be difficult to do without damaging your gutter so be sure not to oversaturate. Remove the wet dirt with a gutter scoop or trowel.
Discard debris. Use a bucket or a trash bag to discard the debris from the roof. You can store the bucket on the roof or throw the trash bag to the ground when full. Be very careful on the ladder when discarding the trash.
Check that downspouts are not clogged. Use a garden hose in the opening of the downspout, letting the water unclog anything that may be in there. Make sure you do this with light pressure because the downspout is not strong enough to withstand heavy water pressure. Use a plumbers snake or an unbent hanger if the the garden hose does not work when cleaning your gutter.
Flush gutters. Use the hose once again to flush the gutters with water when you are done cleaning. You can also use this time to check if there are any leaks in your gutter. You will recognized these leaks if water seeps through any crack or holes.