The 5 Best Gutter Cleaning Tools
If you’re anything like most homeowners, you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your gutter guards—out of sight, out of mind. However, they play a vital role in the protection of your home. Their primary function is to divert water away from the house, preventing water damage over time.
With that in mind, maintaining rain gutters is essential if you want them to continue operating properly. They tend to get clogged with leaves and other debris, so it’s imperative to take some time to clean them out periodically.
There are various types of gutter cleaning tools, and each tool has pros and cons to consider before selecting the best tool for the job. In this article, we’ll review some of the most effective tools, discuss ways to keep gutters from clogging in the first place and will answer some of the questions we hear most frequently.
In this article:
- The Best Gutter Cleaning Tools
- How to Keep Gutters from Clogging
- How Gutter Guards Can Help
- Final Thoughts
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Best Gutter Cleaning Tools
When it comes to cleaning out your rain gutters, you’ll need to first decide if you’re planning on using a ladder to reach them, or if you want to invest in a gutter cleaning tool for use without a ladder. There are pros and cons to both.
Using a ladder to clean out your gutters puts you right where the action is. You’ll be able to physically see the debris in the gutters, and you’ll know whether or not it has all been removed.
While you’re up there, you’ll also be able to assess the gutters, as well as the closest parts of the roof for any potential damage. However, you might be putting yourself at risk if the ladder isn’t secure or if you don’t feel comfortable on the ladder in the first place.
Staying on the ground and using a tool is a safer option, since you won’t be 10 or more feet in the air. The downside is that you can’t see inside the gutters at close range, and you might miss seeing any damage that’s occurred since the last inspection.
Gutter Cleaning Tools to Use with a Ladder
Gutter scoop
With a gutter scoop, you’ll manually scoop out the debris with a flexible plastic or rubber scoop. These come in various designs, but they’re all similar. Some gutter scoops are designed with holes to allow water to flow out while you scoop the goop out of the gutter.
While this can be an effective way to remove bigger piles of debris, it can also be time-consuming and tiring. If you don’t want to buy a dedicated gutter scoop, you can use an inexpensive rubber kitchen spatula that will also allow you to remove debris.
Gutter robot
Unlike a gutter scoop, a ladder is only needed when placing, repositioning or removing the gutter robot. Since there’s no manual cleaning involved, you can leave the ladder behind; you simply need to place the robot inside the gutter and power it on.
You’ll then use a remote control to direct the robot tool through the gutters, where it will use a propeller to push the debris out. While these robots are convenient and easy to use, they do not provide the most efficient cleaning results compared to other cleaning methods or devices.
Gutter Cleaning Tools to Use Without a Ladder
Leaf blower with extension
A leaf blower with an extension cord allows you to remain on the ground while blowing out the leaves. However, it’s best to check the debris first to make sure it’s dry, since this approach will not work if the leaves and debris are wet and heavy.
Gutter wand
A gutter wand can be used in combination with your garden hose to create a spray from above the open gutter. The water pressure then pushes the debris out. These are simple to use, but if debris starts accumulating at the downspout, you might not notice until there’s a clog.
Power washer
If you have a power washer, you can use it with an attachment to blast debris out of the gutters from above, much like a gutter wand. The good news is that you don’t need to be on a ladder to use a power washer, as the power washer’s pole is typically long enough for you to direct it from the ground.
To avoid pushing debris into the downspout, be sure to direct the power washer in the opposite direction. You should also avoid using the washer nozzle too close to the gutter, as it can dent the aluminum.
How to Keep Gutters from Clogging
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— LeafFilter Gutter Protection (@LeafFilter) July 18, 2023
While gutters do need to be frequently cleaned, preventing them from clogging in the first place is a great way to reduce your workload. Here are a few tips to consider.
- Clean the gutters at least twice a year. By keeping up with the task, you can reduce the chances of large clogs that need more than cursory cleaning. If you have the time, you can do this yourself, but otherwise you’re facing the expense of hiring a professional to do it for you.
- Trim trees overhead. If you have trees that are overhanging your roof, you’re probably getting a lot more leaves than you would otherwise. Trimming some of the trees back away from the house can reduce clogging. As with gutter cleaning, if you have the time you can do this yourself, but otherwise you’ll need to hire someone to trim the trees for you.
- Have gutter guards professionally Installed: With gutter guards, cleaning out your gutters can be checked off your to-do list for good. Our durable materials and patented technology offer the most proven performance on the market, not only preventing leaves from clogging the gutters but also blocking even the smallest of debris.
How Gutter Guards Can Help
Your gutters play an essential role in the preservation of your home, but cleaning them can be problematic, time-consuming, and potentially expensive. Given that they also require cleaning on a regular basis—at least twice a year—it’s no surprise that homeowners will often dread the falling leaves of autumn, rather than taking time to enjoy the beautiful foliage.
That’s where gutter guards come in. Gutter guards are designed to keep leaves from clogging your gutters as well as other debris, including dirt, shingle grit, pine needles, and even pollen. This permanently eliminates the worry about clogs inside your gutters and the potential water damage clogged gutters can cause to your home.
Final Thoughts
Without gutter guards, cleaning your gutters is absolutely necessary if you want to protect your home. While no one looks forward to this messy, inconvenient task, there’s one solution that can take away this chore and give back some precious time to do the things you love.
LeafFilter’s patented technology and lifetime warranty can also give you the peace of mind, knowing that your gutters are better protected from clogs, ice dams, and water damage. With our commitment to year-round service and the local reliability of our neighborhood professionals, we’re proud to say that LeafFilter Gutter Guards are the best choice for homeowners across the country looking to protect their homes.
To learn more, call us today at 1-800-290-6106 or visit https://www.leaffilter.com/ for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best time to clean gutters?
Fall and spring are typically the best seasons to clean gutters; you’ll want to clean out fallen leaves in autumn, and then again in late spring to remove sticks, pollen, bird droppings, etc.
Can you stand on the roof to clean gutters?
We don’t recommend that anyone stands on their roof while doing a messy job like this, as you could easily lose your footing and slip or cause damage to the roof. A better option is to use one of the alternatives discussed in this article. But the BEST option is to have our gutter experts install a proven gutter guards for you in as little as 6 hours so that everything is handled safely and efficiently.
What’s the safest way to clean gutters?
If you’re cleaning the gutters yourself, the safest way is to use a gutter wand or power washer to clean the gutters from the ground. Ultimately, of course, the safest way is to have gutter guards installed so that you never have to worry about cleaning out the gutters again!
