This Is the Safest and Easiest Way to Clean Your Gutters

Fall is a beautiful time, but those leaves can really stuff up our gutters. While gutters aren’t the most glamorous part of a home, they are necessary. Without them, there is an increased chance that water will get into your home since water that runs off the roof isn’t directed away from the foundation. However, this also means that most debris on our roof will end up in the gutters, causing them not to work correctly.

Besides dropping water along your home’s foundation, a clogged gutter will allow water to get under your shingles and damage the roof. The added weight of a full gutter can also pull away the roof, causing structural damage.

The solution is an easy one: clean out the gutters. While products like Gutter Guard Mesh can help reduce the amount of debris in your gutters, it won’t stop it all or remove what’s there. You can get on a ladder to clean your gutters with your hands or a scoop, but that method is both laborious and dangerous. 

The best and safest way to clean your gutters is with the help of power tools like a leaf blower and pressure washer.

Gather your gear

The equipment needed will vary depending on a couple of factors — budget and type of home.

Let’s start by addressing the money side of things. The largest expense in using a pressure washer to clean out gutters is the machine itself. There are many great options for pressure washers across a range of prices. 

Gas-powered pressure washers can offer 4,000PSI or more, but those are expensive, and all that power could actually damage your gutters. So, unless you need all that power, save the money.

If you need a pressure washer for tasks like cleaning your gutters and light cleaning, you can save money and reduce the chance of damaging your home with an electric option like this model from Black & Decker for $170. It is easier to store, and you won’t have to worry about maintaining a gas motor.

With the pressure washer sorted, it’s time for the accessories. For safety, the best place to clean out gutters is standing firmly on the ground. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries every year.

To achieve this, I use a power washer extension like this one, which adds sections to the wand to make it longer. But if you have the budget, this $140 telescoping option is easier to manage since it is a single piece, and you can quickly adjust the length.

Both accessory kits mentioned above have curved ends, so you can point the pressure washer wand vertically and spray it into your gutters. While these options will get the job done, I like using a dual-ended sprayer to do it quicker. Choose a sprayer tip with a wide spray angle regardless of which end you use. Go with 60 degrees for loose debris and a 40-degree nozzle for stuck-on gunk.

Gutter cleaning tips when using a pressure washer

Using a pressure washer is straightforward. Point the spray nozzle into the bottom of the gutter and spray. That should give you a pretty clean gutter, but it won’t get all the debris, and you could still have clogs.

Here are some tips for using a pressure washer to clean your gutters.

• Use safety glasses or a face shield. Spraying out gutters from the ground means anything that flies out must come down, which could be on you.
• If you have delicate plants or bushes, you can lay a tarp over them first to prevent damage from falling debris and make clean-up easier.
• Check your downspouts before you begin spraying to ensure they aren’t clogged. Run water from your hose, and once clear water comes out of the end of the downspout, you’re done. If clogged, you may need to take your downspout off to remove the debris.
• When spraying, start where your downspout attaches to your gutter and spray away from it. This will push sticks, leaves and other debris away from the downspout, reducing the chances of a clog.

By following these tips and using the correct equipment, you can clear your gutters and prepare them for rain, sleet or snow. 

Gutters aren’t the only thing that needs to be prepped or cared for as the seasons change. Your lawn has needs so it can survive the cold and be ready for Spring. And if not properly stored for winter, your outdoor power equipment may not be ready to work next year either.