How to Clean Gutters Safely this Spring
With spring in full swing, it’s important to keep the gutters in your property clean and free from debris. Gutters collect and redirect the flow of rain water so it doesn’t ruin the structural integrity of your property. But without regular maintenance, the gutters can get clogged by leaves, animal waste, and other rubbish. As a result, rain water — mixed with all that dirt — gets trapped and this can cause serious damage that will cost more to repair.
Ideally, it’s best to thoroughly clean the gutters around three times in a year — before the rainy season — to ensure that the rain water will flow out through the gutters properly. It’s also advisable to clean the gutters after a storm since a lot of leaves and debris are often found on the roof afterwards.
Here are some tips on how to clean the gutters safely and correctly. It can be quite a chore but in the long run, this preemptive measure will save you from the hassle of having to deal with the resulting damage caused by clogged gutters.
Prepare the cleaning tools
First, make sure you have the right tools for the task. These are the basic cleaning equipment that you’ll need:
- A sturdy ladder with a platform for your cleaning tools (as an extra precaution, you can add a ladder stabiliser)
- A gutter scoop that’s also designed to remove dirt under gutter supports
- Heavy-duty cleaning brush for scrubbing
- Extension attachments for your garden hose, pressure washer or leaf blower to clean hard-to-reach areas
- A durable bucket to contain the leaves and debris that you’ll take out
- Sponge-mop to clean the sides of the gutters
- Gutter cleaning solution to effectively remove dirt and mildew
Protect yourself
When you’re cleaning the gutters, you’re exposed to different kinds of dirt infested with germs and bacteria that can suddenly fly off to your face. Wear goggles or industrial-level glasses to protect your eyes and a face mask so the debris won’t accidentally get into your nose and mouth while you’re cleaning.
Don’t forget to wear thick, non-absorbent, puncture-resistant gloves. This will help protect you from bacterial infection and from getting cuts caused by rusty gutters and other metallic parts. If you’re climbing up on the roof, wear rubber-soled boots for better grip to prevent you from sliding off and having a nasty fall.
Watch out for power line cables
Before you climb up the roof, check for any electrical cables that may have dropped from the power pole. If they’re damaged, don’t even attempt to fix it yourself or you’ll risk being electrocuted. Call the power company or a professional to repair or clear away the fallen cables before you start cleaning.
Clean the roof first
Clogged gutters are the result of debris and leaves that have settled on the roof in the first place, so it’s better to clear this away first. Power-wash off the debris then use a rake or a leaf blower to get rid of the leaves. Check for trapped dirt and leaves also near the air conditioner, ventilation, chimney or heating units.
Remove gutter muck
After you’ve cleaned the roof, it’s time to finally focus on the gutters. Wear your protective gear, climb up the ladder to the gutter area, and use the scoop or your hands to remove the gutter muck. Toss the debris to the ground, gather them all with a rake or broom, then put it inside the bucket.
Next, use the cleaning solution and the brush to scrub out the leftover grime in the gutters, including the sidings. Then wash out any remaining stains or dirt with the hose or pressure washer. Use the extension attachments for hard-to-reach spots or if you’d rather continue washing from the ground.
Don’t forget the downspouts
Congested downspouts — or drain pipes — can cause gutters to clog up as well. After cleaning the gutter, run the hose inside the pipe and flush out any trapped debris, loose leaves, and animal excrement. If there is little to no water flowing out, then you might need to remove the downspout and make a clean sweep to ensure that there is no more muck stuck inside.
Consider the professionals in outdoor cleaning services
Cleaning the roof and the gutters can be a painstaking but necessary process if you want to maintain your property. With the equipment that you’ll need plus the time and effort that you’ll spend, you’re better off investing in professional cleaning services who can do the job quickly and more efficiently.
Outdoor Cleaning Specialists offers expert services in residential and commercial gutter cleaning and roof cleaning in Sydney, including strata properties. We also provide a variety of outdoor cleaning services and repairs for different kinds of public and private properties.
We consistently deliver the best results through our years of experience combined with the latest gutter cleaning systems and environmentally friendly cleaning products. You don’t have to worry about clogged gutters and drain pipes. We can take care of that for you.
If you need assistance in cleaning your property’s roof and gutters, contact us on 1300 870 626. You can also fill up our online form to get a quick quote so we can help you right away.
