It’s officially autumn and the leaves are yellowed and falling. It would be beautiful – if they weren’t blocking up your gutters as they descend…
Blocked gutters cause all kinds of problems, the biggest one being damage to the property as water overflows and runs where it shouldn’t. This can lead to leaks, mould and even damage to the foundation. If that weren’t enough, the gutters themselves can take damage from the sheer weight they’re carrying, and pests such as rodents and mosquitoes will only add to the load!
In short, it’s best to keep gutters clear, and now is the time to do it before the leaves settle in. It might sound like an arduous job, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s the easy way to clear the gutters, even if you don’t want to climb a ladder.
When should you clean your gutters?
You should aim to clean your gutters twice a year – once in late spring and again in autumn. But if you spot any of the following, you need to take action ASAP to remove the potential blockage.
- Water damage around your home – Where the gutters have overflowed and spilled down your walls, it can leak into the property, rotting the wood around your windows and causing damp spots and mould on the inner walls. It can even crack the concrete of your foundations. Soil erosion and pools of water around the exterior are another obvious sign of this.
- Gutters are buckling – The sheer weight of the blockage can do some damage to your gutters too. This can snap the fixings and pull the gutters away from the wall, distorting and buckling them.
- Nesting material – All kinds of animals (and pests) are drawn to blocked gutters. Mice, rats, birds and squirrels will use the debris as nesting material, while mosquitoes will happily lay their eggs in the stagnant water. Bees and wasps are also known to be attracted to the roofline where there’s a blocked gutter. And spiders are likely to come perusing where there’s high insect activity.
- Plant growth – The leaves, twigs and moss in your gutter are compacted by the rain and break down into a kind of mulch, which can catch and grow any seeds that are caught in the wind.
- There’s a sudden drop in leaves – If there’s been high winds and the leaves have suddenly dropped, odds are a few have been caught in the gutters.
How to clean your gutters
Wait for the right day
You want the leaves to be dry for easiest removal, so don’t attempt this on a damp morning. If the ground is damp, you’re also more likely to slip on the ladder (and the ladder itself could slip, too), so a sunny, bright day is best, with low winds to make the task easier and safer. Give yourself plenty of time so you don’t rush.
Get your tools ready
You’re going to need a pair of heavy-duty, waterproof gardening gloves, with good dexterity and grip, or a scooping tool if you’d rather not touch the leaves. A bucket is also necessary to carry the residue. If you’re planning to do this yourself, a stable ladder is a must – one that’s a suitable height.
Keep in mind that if you’re planning to climb a ladder, a secondary person will also be handy to empty the bucket for you and to stop you from climbing up and down so much.
Work your way along
Start at the highest point of your gutters and work your way along to the downspout. Don’t overreach as you clear the leaves, as it’s easy to lose your balance and tip the ladder. Although, your secondary person can hold the base of the ladder to help keep it grounded as you work.
Hang your bucket from the top of your ladder so you have both hands free to remove any leaves while still holding on. Collect any twigs and moss while you’re here to remove all pest nesting or plant growth material.
Keep handing down the bucket to be emptied once it’s filled, and give any stubborn residue a scrub with a damp stiff brush where needed. An electric cleaning brush can help with this. Descend the ladder carefully when you're done with that spot and keep shifting along.
Flush through
Once you’ve cleared all the leaves, return to the highest point of your gutters and flush it through with water to make sure it’s flowing freely. And that’s it!
If you want to make this chore easier in the future, you can always install some gutter guards and balloon cages to protect them from falling leaves.
Gutter guards
How to clean gutters without a ladder
If you’re not comfortable with climbing a ladder, there’s always the option of hiring in a professional to clean the gutters for you.
Failing that, there are extendable tools you can use to do it yourself, such as brushes and scrapers. You then need to flush it through by attaching your hose to another telescopic tool. Don’t forget to rake away the leaves and whatever else has fallen down afterwards.
It helps to have a person indoors monitoring from above (if possible) to tell you when the gutter is clear. Or if you happen to have one, a drone could give you a picture, too!
