|
Safe Steps for Cleaning Your Gutters
 Sharon Hendricks
Water that is trapped in your gutters may cause expensive damage to both your walls and roof. Keeping them clean helps your home to stay in the best shape. Here are the steps to take in order to clean them safely.
Use a ladder to access your home's roof. Take care that you do not lean your ladder against the gutter or downspout, since these can bend or even break easily.
Use a gutter scoop, large spoon, or garden trowel to remove the twigs and leaves from your gutters. You can also use your hand. If there is caked-on dirt in your gutters, wet it down, then use your trowel or gutter scoop to remove it. Place a trash bag or bucket onto your ladder or the roof, then place any debris into it. If youre using a bag, simply drop it to the ground when it is full.
Make sure that your downspouts have not become clogged. If they are clogged, use a garden hose placed in the opening to unclog them. Be sure that you are gentle when you do this, because they cannot stand as much pressure as your house drain can. If you cannot unclog it using your hose, a plumber's snake or a metal hanger that is unbent can be used. Again, use a light touch when doing this.
Another way that you can clean them is with your leaf blower. The disadvantage of this is that not only will you be up high but you will be using a heavy piece of equipment in awkward positions. There is also the potential of the leaf blower sending the debris blowing back into your eyes and making it hard to see.
Once they are clean, flush them out using your hose. This will also tell you if they are leaking.
| 
