subject: Cleaning Your Gutters [print this page] Its a job no one enjoys doing, however if you ignore the job for an indefinite period of time, it may cause your roof to leak and when that happens, youll really have problems. If you dont like ladders, and cant get your gutters cleaned in any other way, you may want to hire a professional.
The ways to clean your gutters are as numerous as there are people who clean them. Everyone has their own ideas, and you may want to develop yours. One thing youll want to do if you drag out that old ladder is to be careful that you dont lean the ladder against the gutters, because that will dent or damage them.
Whatever way you decide to get the job done while cleaning your gutters is to have the proper tools at hand so youre not climbing up and down the ladder. Its also wise, but how many of us follow those rules, it doesnt mean were stupid or lazy, but then again, maybe it does. Anyway, like we said, its wise to protect yourself against what youll find up there.
Wear gloves, a dust mask and safety goggles, and we dont need to tell you to make sure the ladder is secure before you climb up the rungs.
If you havent cleaned the gutters for a long time, be prepared to place the dried up leaves, dirt, dead birds or other objects into a trash bag. Dont just swish the stuff out and let them hit the side of your home or windows. Youll be making more work for yourself.
Scoop the stuff out with a garden trowel, if you can find one, rinse the dust and dirt toward the downspout, and if necessary scrub it clean. After its clean, you may decide to install screens or caps to make the job easier next time. However they arent cheap and they actually make the job harder. Others suggest that leaf strainers at the tops of the drains will cut down on large clogs.
If you have several trees in the area you should probably clean your gutters regularly, otherwise a couple of times a year should be sufficient. Whether you do the job yourself, or hire a professional dont wait until the gutters are full of stuff. That stuff can rot and cause further damage to your home.
So cleaning your gutters should be a regular task and easier each time.
