Leaves and other debris will clog gutters and cause problems in various parts of the house. In winter, trapped water freezes and expands gutters until they break. Clean the gutters at least once a year unless the yard is overgrown with tall trees, which makes the gutters need to be cleaned at least twice a year. If you're going to use stairs, you'll need a ladder that's stable and methodically cleans the gutters by hand. You can also safely clean your gutters off the ground by making a home gutter vacuum using a dry/wet vacuum cleaner, then inserting the vacuum into the gutter to get rid of the trash.
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Method 1 of 4: Preparing for Ladder Safe Gutter Cleaning
Step 1. Put on work clothes and rubber gloves
Cleaning gutters is dirty work. In addition, the chamfer can be quite sharp. Therefore, wear work clothes that can be soiled and rubber gloves that are quite strong.
- Even in hot weather, wear long sleeves to work. This shirt will protect you from insects and the sharp edges of your gutters.
- When cleaning gutters on dry days, wear eye protection and a mask especially in dusty areas to prevent dust and pollen from entering the eyes and lungs.
Step 2. Prepare the stairs
Position the ladder where the gutters will be cleaned. If possible, lean the ladder against the wall of the house. Otherwise, lean the ladder against where the gutter is attached to some kind of fastener in the house, such as a nail. Make sure you make sure the slope of the ladder is safe, especially if you are using an extension ladder.
- Place your toes on the foot of the ladder and straighten your arms. The ladder is in the right position if the palm of the hand can reach the stairs comfortably.
- Before climbing a ladder, test its stability by going up 1-2 steps. If the ladder wobbles or sag, adjust the position again until it is solid.
- If the footing is soft, the ladder can sink. Place an equal-sized plank of wood under each foot of the ladder to prevent this, then test the stability of the ladder again. Reposition the ladder as needed.
- Stairs can sag on uneven or sloping ground. Strengthen the steps of the ladder by placing a wooden plank under each foot of the ladder. Retest the stability of the ladder, and repair if necessary.
Step 3. Attach the bucket to the ladder as a trash can
Straighten the hanger wire, but leave the hook-like end. Thus, you have a hook-tipped wire stick. Wrap the straight end of the wire around the bucket handle. Then, hang the bucket on the second step from the top.
- Most of the waste in gutters is biodegradable. If you want, you can throw this garbage on the ground and let it decompose or compost.
- If possible, place a large trash can, tarp, or wheelbarrow under the stairs. That way, you can throw trash into this container.
- If pressed, you can use a plastic bag instead. However, your work will be a bit awkward and dangerous, especially when the wind is blowing hard.
Method 2 of 4: Cleaning Garbage from Gutters Using Ladder
Step 1. Remove debris from gutters manually or using an air compressor
Remove sediment and debris from gutters with gloved hands or blow with air compressor nozzles. Otherwise, use a tool to clean the gutters such as a small shovel, hand shovel, or plastic spatula. Don't reach for the trash. Only clean up the trash that you can reach within your means.
- To make sure your work is safe, have a friend or relative hold the ladder while you work for added stability.
- If you force yourself to reach the trash while at the top of the stairs, you could wobble and fall and seriously injure yourself.
Step 2. Reposition the ladder and continue cleaning up the trash
When you've finished one section of gutters, go down and move the ladder to the next section of gutters before cleaning up the trash there. Clean the gutters as described. Continue to reposition the ladder and clean the gutters until it is completely clean.
Step 3. Flush gutters with water
Tie the garden hose to a post, tree trimmer, or sturdy branch. Attach the nozzle to the hose, turn on the water, and raise it to the gutter. After that, flush the entire gutter to complete the cleaning. If the flow in the downspout (the vertical pipe that carries water from the gutter down to the ground) is uneven or weak, it looks like something is still clogging the gutter.
- If it looks like the gutter is clogged, position the ladder behind the downspout. Tap along the pipe using a screwdriver from top to bottom. Usually the blockage is in the part where the sound is muted.
- The downspout can also be removed from the housing and gutters. Lay the pipe on the ground and remove the blockage using a long stick, a leaf blower, or a pressure washer.
Method 3 of 4: Making a Home Gutter Sucker
Step 1. Attach the extension head firmly to the vacuum cleaner
Use only a vacuum cleaner that can handle both wet and dry materials, such as a chipper vacuum or dry/wet vacuum cleaner. Position the vacuum cleaner where you plan to clean the gutters. Insert the longest hose into the vacuum cleaner and attach the longest solid extension head to the hose.
- The power cord of the vacuum cleaner may not be long enough to reach the wall outlet. If so, you'll need an extension cord to work around this. Make sure the extension cord is long enough to reach the wall outlet and gutter.
- Choose a powerful motorized vacuum cleaner. Tools with weak suction power will not be effective.
Step 2. Calculate the size of the second extension
Measure the total length of the head of the firm extension. When measuring the height of the chamfer, start from the top to knee height. Reduce the height of the chamfer by the length of the extension head. The result is the total length of your second extension.
While using the gutter suction, you will most likely be holding the device at chest level. If the gutter is measured from the top to the ground, it will be too long so the gutter sucker feels awkward to use
Step 3. Cut the rigid plastic pipe or tube with a saw
Mark the size of the second extension (chamber height - length of the extension head) on the rigid plastic pipe or tube. Cut with a saw so that you get a pipe along the second extension. The rest of the pipe/tube can be reused or disposed of.
Cut pipe can leave thorns, which can cause cuts or cuts. Smooth it using a file if needed
Step 4. Assemble the gutter sucker
Slide the head end of the extension into the second extension. Connect the two until they are firmly fixed using an elbow pipe. Once the first elbow is in place, add the second in the same way.
- When you put them together, you get a long, straight, strong extension that ends in a hook. The hook formed by the elbow pipe should be curved so that it points down.
- To get the tool into the gutter, use a nozzle or a flat tip.
- Be sure to glue the suction cup joint of the housing and the elbow pipe firmly together. If there is a gap, the suction power will decrease so it is not very effective.
Method 4 of 4: Using a Home Gutter Sucker
Step 1. Clean the gutters
Hold the chamfer sucker approximately at the base of the extension head. Turn on the gutter suction, and gently suck with the tip of the hook pointing down the length of the gutter to pick up leaves, twigs, and other debris.
If the gutter is very clogged, you may need to empty the gutter suction while cleaning. The suction power of a sucker that is too full will decrease and leave gutter deposits
Step 2. Check for debris remaining in the gutters
Even though the majority of the waste has been removed from the gutters after desludging, some stubborn clogs can still remain. Lean the ladder firmly against the house and climb up to check the gutters. Go down the stairs, then aim for the remaining blockage using the gutter sucker.
Some of the blockage may remain even after the gutter sucker is sucked out. Use tree pruners, poles, or sturdy sticks to poke and loosen this blockage. Suck up loose debris using a gutter sucker
Step 3. Remove the remaining trash and check the downspout flow
Tie the garden hose to a pole or long stick. Turn on the hose and lift it into the gutter. Rinse the entire gutter with water to remove any remaining debris. Poor water flow in the downspout can indicate a blockage in the pipe.
The blockage can be removed from the downspout using a plumbing snake. Use this tool as if loosening a blockage in a drainage
Tips
Remove debris from the roof so it doesn't clog the gutters before cleaning
Warning
- Gutters are often sharp. To prevent cuts, always wear long sleeves and rubber gloves before working.
- Beware of electrical wires above the house. Make sure you know where it is and don't touch it with your body, ladder or other tools.
