How to Clean Gutters

April 3, 2023

*Updated December 17th, 2024

Properly cleaning your gutters is a crucial task that ensures your home remains protected from costly water damage. Gutters play a vital role in directing rainwater and melted snow away from your roof, walls, and foundation, safeguarding the structural integrity of your property. When gutters become clogged with leaves, twigs, and debris, they can overflow, causing water to pool on your roof, seep into your walls, or erode your home’s foundation. Neglecting this essential maintenance can lead to issues such as mold growth, basement flooding, and expensive repairs down the line.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about cleaning your gutters, including step-by-step tips, the tools you’ll need, and safety precautions to take. We’ll also explain why, in some cases, it might be wise to call in a professional. While cleaning gutters can be a manageable DIY project, hiring a pro ensures the job is done safely and thoroughly, particularly for homes with multiple stories or hard-to-reach areas. Keep reading to learn how to maintain your gutters and prevent future damage to your home.

5 Reasons you Must Clean your Gutters

It’s a dreaded chore, but cleaning your gutters is essential for many reasons. So if you’ve thought about skipping this important fall chore, here are five reasons not to.

1. Prevent Water Damage

Gutters are meant to drain water to keep it away from your house. However, if the gutters are clogged with leaves and other debris, the water can’t properly drain, causing the water to leak into your windows or the foundation. This puts your home at risk for water damage, which can eventually lead to mold growth.

2. Protect your Roof

Gutters also protect your roof by running the water away from it. When gutters are clogged, the water has nowhere to go but sit on your roof. This puts pressure on your roof and increases the chance of leaking. Not only will you have water damage in your home, but you’ll need a new roof prematurely.

3. Avoid Pest Infestation

When leaves and debris accumulate in the gutters, it makes them more desirable for rodents.

As a result, certain animals will create nests or burrow into the debris, taking up residence in your gutters. This can add unnecessary weight to your gutters and roof and put your home at risk of more severe damage caused by rodents.

4. Prevent a Cracked Foundation

If the water cannot properly run away from your home, it may pool at the bottom. This puts your foundation at risk of cracking, leading to many other major problems stemming from the cracks. Also, a cracked foundation makes it nearly impossible for a home to pass a home inspection when you try to sell it.

5. Reduce Unnecessary Expenses

When your gutters work properly, your home isn’t at risk of unnecessary damage. However, if the water cannot run away from your home properly, you’ll have more issues that take time and cost money.

Cleaning your gutters can protect many areas of your home, making it easier to maintain a proper home year-round.

6. Prevent Ice Dams in Winter

Clogged gutters can trap water, which then freezes in colder temperatures, forming ice dams. These ice dams can damage your roof, gutters, and soffits while allowing water to seep into your home. Preventing clogs ensures water can flow freely, reducing the risk of ice buildup during winter.

7. Extend the Lifespan of Your Gutters

Debris buildup puts extra weight and stress on your gutters, causing them to sag, crack, or pull away from the house. Regular cleaning helps keep gutters in good condition, reducing the need for costly repairs or replacements.

8. Prevent Landscaping Erosion

When water overflows from clogged gutters, it can pour directly onto your landscaping, eroding soil, damaging plants, and creating muddy patches. Properly maintained gutters direct water to safe drainage areas, preserving the appearance and health of your yard.

9. Improve Curb Appeal

Overflowing gutters with visible debris or sagging sections can make your home look unkempt. Clean, functional gutters contribute to a polished exterior and boost curb appeal, especially if you plan to sell your home.

10. Prevent Basement Flooding

Excess water pooling near your home’s foundation due to clogged gutters can seep into your basement, causing flooding or moisture buildup. Cleaning gutters ensures water is properly channeled away from your property, keeping your basement dry and safe.

11. Protect Exterior Paint and Siding

Water overflowing from clogged gutters can run down the sides of your house, leading to peeling paint, rotting wood, or siding damage. Regular maintenance helps protect your home’s exterior from costly repairs.

What is the Best Way to Clean Gutters?

Before you start cleaning gutters, knowing the best approach for cleaning them is crucial.

It’s not a simple job, even though it may seem like it at high level.

Typically, there are two ways to clean gutters – from the ground or a ladder. Obviously, the safer option is to do it from the ground. If you choose this option, you can clean gutters with a garden hose or wet/dry vacuum.

1. Garden Hose Gutter Cleaning from the Ground

You’ll need a water-fed tube to clean your gutters with a garden hose. This tube should fit up the gutters and force the water through them. You’ll spray the house through the gutter, freeing the leaves and debris. Work your way from top to bottom, and be sure to protect yourself as the debris shoots out of the gutter.

2. Wet/Dry Vac Gutter Cleaning from the Ground

If you have a wet/dry vacuum, purchase a gutter cleaning attachment, and use it to clean your gutters from the ground. Similar to the hose method, you should protect yourself from debris flying out of the gutter. However, once finished with the vacuum, you may want to wash the gutter out with the hose to ensure you remove any remaining debris.

3. Leaf Blower Cleaning from a Ladder

If you are comfortable climbing a ladder and have someone who can brace the bottom of it, consider cleaning gutters from a ladder with a leaf blower.

Before using the leaf blower, block the end of the gutter with a rag. This prevents the leaves and debris from going down the gutter. Next, use the leaf blower on a high setting to blow the debris out of the gutter and onto the ground. Lastly, finish by washing the gutter out with water.

4. Power Washer Cleaning from a Ladder

If your gutters are excessively cluttered, consider using a power washer. Again, be sure someone is at the bottom of the ladder, holding it in place for you. Next, use the power washer on fine mist to clear out the leaves and debris. You don’t have to do anything except let the water run through the gutter, ensuring a steady stream, so you know the gutter is clear.

Can you Clean Gutters by Hand?

If you don’t have any fancy tools to clean the gutters, you can also do it by hand. You only need a ladder, bucket, gloves, and something to scoop the debris.

When you climb the ladder, start by securing the bucket. Then,  using your gloves or a scooper, remove the debris by placing it in the bucket. Repeat this process until you think you’ve cleared the gutter. Next, take your garden hose and run water through it to ensure they are clear.

Is it Worth it to Clean Gutters Yourself?

While you can learn how to clean gutters yourself, and most of the supplies needed are things most homeowners have, it’s not wise.

Hiring a professional company to handle it is well worth the investment. Cleaning gutters is risky, especially if you use a ladder. You risk falling and hurting yourself or damaging your home. On the other hand, if you don’t clean them right, you could cause more damage, costing yourself more money.

Instead, it’s best to let the licensed and insured professionals handle your gutter cleaning, ensuring your home is safe and you remain uninjured. For guidance with the hiring process, check out 6 tips and tricks for finding the right contractor.

Safety Measures to Take When Cleaning Gutters

If you decide to learn how to clean gutters, take the following safety precautions.

  • Wear thick gloves
  • Wear safety goggles
  • Don’t climb a ladder unless necessary and only if you have a second person to hold it
  • Put a drop cloth at the bottom of the gutter to catch loose debris
  • Stay on the ladder; don’t climb on the roof
  • Don’t try to reach something that isn’t within arm’s length
  • Never use a step ladder

How to Prevent Clogged Gutters

Learning how to clean gutters is important because every homeowner must do it, but there are ways to prevent clogged gutters and minimize the cleaning needed down the road..

Install Gutter Guards

Gutter guards let the water go through them while keeping the debris and leaves out of the gutter. They won’t prevent 100% of the dirt and debris from getting in the gutter, but most of it, so the water flows freely.

Trim Trees and Bushes

If you have landscaping near your gutters, it’s extremely important that they are trimmed routinely.. If you let them get out of control, they can break apart onto the roof and clog the gutters. It’s best to plant trees a few feet away from your home, but if they’ve grown and taken over, don’t let them get so big that they damage your home.

Insect your Roof Annually

Your roof can cause your gutters to clog easily if you aren’t careful. Inspecting your roof annually is important to look for loose shingles or other issues that could clog your gutters. The sooner you repair roof issues, the less likely your gutters will clog. Here are 6 signs of roof damage to look out for.

Avoid Airborne Debris

As much as you can, avoid airborne debris. For example, ensure your garbage is covered on garbage day so the debris cannot fly around on windy days. Also, think of any other debris or garbage that could potentially fly around your home and land in your gutters, clogging them from proper water flow.

How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?

At a minimum, you should clean your gutters once a year, but the optimal timing and frequency can depend on several factors.

Timing Your Annual Cleaning

The best time to clean your gutters is right before fall, typically in late summer or early autumn. During this season, leaves, twigs, and other debris begin to fall and can quickly clog your gutters if left unchecked. Cleaning them in advance ensures they are prepared to handle seasonal rains and prevent potential water damage.

Twice-Yearly Cleaning for Added Protection

If you live in an area with heavy rainfall, significant wind, or lots of nearby trees, you should consider cleaning your gutters twice a year—once in the spring and again in the fall. In the spring, gutters often accumulate pollen, blossoms, and seeds that can form blockages. Fall cleaning ensures your gutters remain clear as leaves and twigs accumulate during the changing season.

High-Debris Environments

Homes surrounded by trees, especially pine trees that drop needles year-round, may require quarterly cleanings or even monthly checks during peak shedding seasons. If your roof is shaded and prone to moss or algae growth, regular cleanings also help prevent buildup and water overflow.

After Major Storms

In areas prone to heavy storms, hurricanes, or strong winds, it’s a good idea to inspect and clean your gutters immediately after the weather event. Storms can knock leaves, branches, and other debris into your gutters, increasing the risk of clogs and water damage.

Homes with Gutter Guards

Even if you have gutter guards or screens installed, they are not maintenance-free. Debris can still accumulate on top of the guards or slip through smaller openings, so annual inspections and cleanings are still necessary to ensure water flows properly.

Final Thoughts

While cleaning gutters may seem like a manageable DIY task, it’s often a job best left to professionals, especially when dealing with hard-to-reach areas, multi-story homes, or extensive clogs. If you spot a small blockage and feel confident handling it safely with the right tools, addressing it promptly can help prevent larger problems. However, for more thorough maintenance and peace of mind, hiring a professional gutter cleaning service is a smart investment.

Professional cleaners have the experience, tools, and safety equipment necessary to ensure the job is done efficiently and effectively. They can also inspect your gutters for signs of damage, such as leaks, sagging, or loose fasteners, helping you catch small issues before they turn into costly repairs.

By scheduling professional gutter cleanings at least once a year—or more frequently if needed—you can ensure water flows freely and is properly diverted away from your home. This not only protects your roof, siding, and foundation but also saves you time, effort, and potential injury.

In the end, whether you tackle minor clogs yourself or bring in a professional, keeping your gutters clean is an essential part of maintaining a safe, efficient, and well-protected home year-round.

FAQ

How do you clean gutters when you can’t reach them?

If you can’t reach your gutters (most people can’t), then you have two options – clean them from the ground with a hose or wet/dry vac, or get a ladder and clean them by hand or with a pressure washer. If you can’t clean them from the ground, it’s best to consider hiring a professional company to do it for you.

Is it normal for water to stay in the gutter?

Water should not stay in the gutters. Instead, it should flow freely through the gutter and away from the home. If you notice water staying in the gutter, it is a sign that you have clogged gutters.

How do you tell if your gutters are clogged?

There are a few telltale signs if your gutters are clogged.

  • You don’t see water coming out of the gutter
  • You notice plants growing in the gutter
  • Your gutters have water stains or seem saggy
  • Water seeps out the side of your gutters

Additional Gutter Resources