Time to Clean your Gutters! And, how?!

Our home gutters and downspouts function to channel rainwater away from our homes and their foundations. When we don’t allow them to work correctly it can lead to the gutters coming loose, wood rot and mildew, staining of painted surfaces, and even worse, foundation issues or water penetration into the interior of the home.

Home experts recommend cleaning the gutters at least once a year, and more may be suggested for larger amounts of debris. 

So, if you feel comfortable doing this task yourself, here are simple things to consider:

• If  debris is dry, it’ll be easier to clean out.  
• Take precautions: - use a sturdy ladder, maybe even have someone hold it for ya. 
• Other useful tools will be a five-gallon plastic bucket to hook on the ladder to hold the debris; work gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges of the gutters; a trowel or scoop; and a garden hose with a nozzle.
• Start near a downspout, and work away toward the other end of the gutter and when you’re at the end use a water hose and nozzle and spray it all out so it exits the down spout. 
• When you're at the end of the gutter, using the water hose and nozzle, spray out the gutter so it will drain to the downspout.

*Note that there are specialized tools at the home improvement stores so search their website for "gutter cleaning” specialties if you’d like! 

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