Gutter Cleaning How-To Tips + Tricks

When cleaning gutters, there are 2 sides to the coin. The inside clean and the outside wash.

Here is a list of basic tools and equipment you will need to get the job done effectively.  After the list of tools are the how-to steps for vacuuming and washing gutters and eaves trough inside + out.

Tools for inside cleaning:

• Ladder
• Ladder stabilizer
• Bucket (with a hook on the handle to hang it from the gutter)
• A gutter scoop (thin enough to scrape the inside bottom of the gutter)
• A rag
• An extension pole
• A powerful wet/dry vacuum is recommended (6+ HP)
• 50-75 feet of vacuum hose to reach from the ground to the roof of most homes
• Roofer’s safety harness
• Insurance is always recommended when going on roofs (check local laws)

How to clean inside gutters:

*** Make sure you are harnessed when climbing any ladder or accessing roofs. Always comply with safety laws and keep your disability/accident insurance up to date. ***

1. Set up your ladder so the stabilizers are resting above the gutter on the roof (start near a downspout).
2. Place your rag and scoop inside bucket and hang it from the gutter.
3.  Turn on the vacuum and bring the hose up to your work area.
4. If gutters are full of debris, scoop out the excess into your bucket first (especially large debris that can clog your vacuum hose).
5. Next vacuum any remaining loose debris(You can usually slide the hose quite far).
6. If the vacuum misses anything, place a damp rag inside and slide it down the gutter using your pole to push it.  (It will wipe it clean as it slides)
7. Work from the higher ones to the lower ones, repeat steps 1-6 until you’re done.

Tools for outside washing:

• 100 feet of garden hose
• Water tap
• Liquid mixer sprayer
• Water fed brush extension pole (30 feet minimum)
• Industrial cleaning solution (get the strongest liquid cleaning agent you can find at your local hardware store or cleaning supplier)

How to wash the exteriors:

• Pour industrial cleaning solution into liquid mixer sprayer.
• Connect liquid mixer sprayer to your garden hose.
• Connect garden hose to water tap and turn it on.
• Spray the cleaning solution onto the exterior gutters. (adjust sprayer accordingly)
• Saturate all exterior areas with cleaning solution.
• Connect water fed brush extension pole to water hose and tap.
• Extend pole to reach.
• Turn on water tap.
• Scrub and rinse all outside gutters.

The tools and methods used for outside gutter washing can be applied to siding washing as well. If you liked this article, please click the ‘like’ button and/or click the social share buttons below.  Anything you would like to add to this post?  What tools and methods do you utilize for cleaning gutters?  We would love to hear your comments.  Please share your comments with us below this post.  Thank you for visiting. William  🙂