Although gutter cleaning is one of those jobs most home owners would rather ignore. Unfortunately, it is a very important chore than needs to be carried out twice a year. As when your homes gutters become blocked it can cause the need for costly repairs, not only to your gutter themselves but to your home. But this job is often hard to carry out due to the danger involved with working at a height using a ladder. This is why it is often better to leave the job to a team of professionals such as Endeavour Property Services who offer gutter cleaning services throughout Auckland. But for those into a bit of DIY we have put together some of the best gutter cleaning tips from the professionals. As there is a lot of ways that you can clean your gutters, so it is often hard to know what methods will work best for you.
Be Well Prepared
The first tip to effectively cleaning your gutters yourself, is to always be well prepared before going up the ladder or onto the roof. This is not only for your own safety, due to the danger that comes from working at a height. But it is so that you have all the equipment necessary to do the job. But gutter cleaning is more than just pulling leaves and debris from the gutters. In order to clean your gutters well, you first need to identify what the problem is and where it is located. This could be a range of things from leaves blocking and weighing down the gutters to a blocked downpipe.
Manage the Source of The Blockage
We recommend first surveying your homes gutters to work out where the problem is located, so you can come up with a plan to tackle the problem. It is also a good habit to get into as it means that you can work out the cause of the gutter blockages and often prevent it before they get completely blocked. This could be as small as leaves from an overhanging tree blocking the gutters. From noticing the source of the problem, you could get the tree pruned more regularly to stop the leaves building up.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
When cleaning your gutters, it is important to be wearing the appropriate clothing, so that you can protect yourself. As a lot of injuries are caused by inexperienced individuals cleaning their home gutters. Whether it be falling or slipping from a ladder, or cuts from the roof or gutters jagged surface. This is why it is so important to be wearing the correct clothing when carrying out this chore. As this is one thing that is always done by gutter cleaning professionals. Be sure to wear gloves and long-sleeved clothing, as metal gutters and roofing can be very sharp, so it is important to protect yourself from injury. Also, gutters are often blocked with a build-up of leaves, debris, rubbish and animal droppings, so wearing gloves will protect you from sickness caused by exposure to these contaminants. It is also very important to consider what shoes you are wearing, especially in cases where you will need to walk on the roof. It is important to choose shoes with good grip, so you can comfortably stand on the roof without slipping. It is also a good idea to wear glasses or protective eye wear as often when cleaning gutters small dirt and dust particles can go airborne and can get into your eyes.
Have the Right Tools
Gutter cleaning professionals have all the tools ready to get the job done right. Unfortunately, it is often hard to know what tools work the best. But don’t worry you don’t need to run out to the hardware store, luckily enough the majority of these tools are things that you already probably have lying around in your garage or garden shed.
Plastic Scooper
One simple but extremely useful tool to have when cleaning out your homes gutters is a plastic scooper or small shovel. This could be many things from a garden trowel, a kid’s spade or a plastic soft drink bottle cut in half. This scooper is very helpful at scooping out built up debris from the gutters, as this debris is often very smelly and unsightly. So, through having a scoop on hand you can avoid having to get your hands dirty. It is also a lot more effective at getting deep into the gutters to remove mud and leaves.
Rake or Broom
One thing that is often overlooked by home owners when cleaning their own gutters, is getting the leaves and dirt off the roof first. As if not your clean gutters could be easily blocked once again by leaves running off your roof. One way you can ensure your gutters stay clean for longer is to use a rake or broom to sweep any leaves and organic matter off your roof before you start cleaning your gutters. This will help your gutters stay cleaner for longer, so you don’t have to get up on the roof again any time soon.
Tarpaulin
Another very important thing to have when cleaning your gutters is a simple tarpaulin. As when cleaning your gutters and flushing out debris, often a lot will end up on the ground in the surrounding areas. By placing down some tarpaulins in the area you are cleaning you can save a lot of time and mess. As the tarpaulins will catch any debris, so you can easily clean up once you have finished the job.
However, we understand that not everyone loves doing these tasks themselves. In some cases, you just do not have the time or mobility to get up on a ladder. In this case it is be best to get help from professionals. As you can easily schedule regular gutter cleaning services to keep your home protected and to save you from spending on expensive renovation and repair. After all it is important to always remember, prevention is better than cure.
