How to clean your gutters without a ladder
Need to clean your gutters, but don’t want to get on a ladder? We have some ideas for you.
Keeping your gutters clean may not be the most glamorous task, but it can go a long way toward maintaining your home. In addition to water splashing over your eaves and onto the ground, clogged gutters can cause leaks into and around the house, creating structural problems with the house itself. But, as most homeowners will admit, cleaning your gutters can be a dirty, labor-intensive chore . With that in mind, let’s talk about how to clean your gutters from the ground.
Why should you clean your gutters?
By keeping your gutters clean, you’re protecting both your home and your wallet. Gutters direct water off your roof and away from your home, while clogged gutters could cause water to pool up, which can lead to rot, ice buildup and leakage, among other concerns. Then, when water collects and spills over the eaves, it can damage the external building materials, landscaping and foundation.
How to clean gutters
There are a few ways to clean rain gutters. The most well-known is by getting on a ladder, or climbing on the roof, to scoop by hand. The problem is, it’s messy, laborious and a hassle. Alternative approaches use extensions and attachments applied to manual tools, as well as tools that use pressurized water (like a hose or pressure washer) or air (such as a leaf blower) to remove debris.
Extendable, manual gutter cleaning tools
Extendable, manual tools are one gutter cleaning possibility. These tools are equipped with attachments that enable gutter cleaning while standing on firm ground. However, they’re not powered, so they can take a lot of work to use effectively. To clean your gutters with an extendable, manual tool:
- Assemble your tool with the preferred attachment.
- Extend to the required length.
- Sweep, scoop or rake out the debris, adjusting the angle of the tool to clear as much debris as possible.
Water-assisted gutter cleaning tools
Water-assisted tools are a second gutter cleaning option for homeowners. Many homeowners already own a garden hose or pressure washer, and these tools can be adapted with extensions to break up moderate amounts of clumped debris and clear gunked-up gutters. To clean your gutter from the ground using a hose or pressure washer:
- Ensure your spray nozzle or pressure washer wand is firmly attached to the extension.
- Start at the end of the gutter opposite the downspout. Use a sweeping motion to push the debris toward the downspout.
- After clearing the length of the gutter and restoring water flow through the downspout, rinse again to remove remaining dirt and debris.
Leaf blower gutter cleaning tools
Saving the best for last, a leaf blower offers both power and versatility. While you’ve likely considered a leaf blower for surfaces like the yard and driveway, a leaf blower gutter kit can help you blow debris out of your gutters. When operating from the ground, this makes handheld or backpack-style leaf blowers a more convenient gutter cleaning tool for many homeowners. It can also be less messy and more time-efficient. To clean your gutter with a leaf blower using an attachment:
- Make sure the debris is relatively dry.
- Start with a low or medium speed setting and angle the air away from shingles or other roofing elements.
- Begin near the downspout and work your way away from it to avoid clogging it with blown debris.
Gutter cleaning method pros and cons
| Method | Pros | Cons |
| Extendable, manual gutter cleaning |
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| Water-based gutter cleaning |
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| Leaf blower with gutter attachment |
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Final thought
Maybe you already know how to clean your gutters with the help of a ladder. But when you consider the labor involved and mess created, it might be time to explore how to clean your gutters without a ladder. You have three options to consider with the help of extendable tools: manual, water-assisted or air-driven. And when you add it all up, cleaning your gutters with a leaf blower starts to look like a great way to go.