It’s simple: When you keep your rain gutters maintained and free of debris you keep your home protected from water damage. When you take the extra step to install gutter guards, the amount of maintenance required to keep gutters free of leaves, needles, twigs, and other debris is significantly reduced.

But contrary to common belief, gutter guards aren’t 100% effective in keeping your gutters clean. The guards themselves can do a great job of preventing leaves, dirt, twigs, and large debris from entering the gutters, but roof grit, seeds, and small particles can still slip through.

There are a number of gutter guard styles to choose from but regardless of the style, you’ll still need to inspect and clean the gutters periodically. But you may be unsure of the materials you’ll need and the right procedure to go about cleaning gutters that have gutter guards. Here at Spout Gutter Pros, we list the materials you’ll need and then specify the easiest and most efficient way to clean gutters that are fitted with gutter guards. 

1. Gather the Necessary Materials

Before you start cleaning, you’ll need to gather the following tools: 

  • Garden hose with a pistol-grip nozzle: Make sure the hose is sufficiently long enough. The pistol-grip nozzle will allow you to have greater control over water pressure.
  • Ladder: Be sure to use a sturdy, strong ladder that’s sufficiently tall for the job.
  • Safety glasses: Protect your eyes from splashing dirt or pests that may be living in the gutter.
  • Gloves: Use gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges or as you’re grabbing debris.
  • Bucket: Rather than tossing gutter debris onto the ground below you, and facing yet another mess to clean up, use a bucket for clumps of leaves, animal nests, and accumulated debris.
  • Garden trowel: A small, hand-held garden spade is super-handy for scraping hardened debris from gutter troughs.
  • Rope: As an added safety precaution, the bucket will be tied to the ladder so that you won’t have to hold it.
  • Helper: Cleaning gutters is a heck of a lot easier when you have a helper to hold the ladder stable and manage the hose for you.

2. Use Safe Ladder Procedures 

Make sure you follow ladder safety protocols to prevent injury: 

  • Make sure you have the right ladder for the job: You’ll need a ladder that’s tall enough so you won’t overreach. It’s suggested that the ladder should be long enough so you can work without using the top three feet, or never higher than the third step from the top.
  • Make sure you have non-slip footwear: Be sure to wear comfortable shoes that are slip-resistant
  • Open the ladder properly so that the hinges are fully open: You can never be too careful in making sure your ladder is secure
  • Every time you move the ladder, make sure it’s placed on an even surface: Depending on the surface around your house, it may be difficult to always find an even surface to make sure you provide the support necessary to keep the ladder stable
  • Have someone hold the ladder in place for added stability: Because climbing a ladder is so potentially dangerous, it’s best if someone supports the ladder while you’re cleaning the gutters.
  • Try to maintain three points of contact on the ladder: It can be tempting to clean using both hands but it’s safest if you can keep one hand on the ladder while you clean with the other.

3. Clean According to Gutter Guard Type

Cleaning Gutters with Removal Gutter Guards

  • If the gutter guard has a light accumulation of debris, spray the guard with the jet nozzle before removing it.
  • If the gutter guard has a heavy accumulation of debris, remove the debris from the gutter guard by hand and place the debris in the bucket. Then spray the guard clean using the jet nozzle.
  • Detach the gutter’s snaps or clips and place the gutter guard on the roof to keep it out of the way while you’re cleaning the gutter.
  • If there is an accumulation of debris in the gutter, scoop it out by hand and put it in the bucket so it doesn’t clog the downspout when you’re rinsing the gutter.
  • Rinse out the gutter using the jet nozzle on the hose.
  • Replace the gutter guard on the gutter and snap or clip it into place.

Cleaning Gutters with Non-Removal Gutter Guards

  • Start by cleaning off any large accumulations of debris from the gutter guard with your hand and place the debris in the bucket.
  • Use the hose and jet nozzle with sufficient pressure to spray through the guard, or if you can, pull up the edge of the gutter guard to fit the hose and nozzle in the gutter.
  • In some cases, you can unscrew a few of the fittings to more easily lift up the gutter guard.
  • Spray the gutter clean, making sure all debris is flowing down the downspout.

Cleaning Gutters That Have Brush, Foam, or Sponge Guards

  • If your gutters are equipped with brushes, foam, or sponges that sit in the gutter, remove the brushes, foam, or sponges and spray them clean with your pistol-grip nozzle.
  • Set the brushes, foam, or sponges on the roof while you clean the gutters.
  • Clean the gutter using your garden trowel, bucket, hose, and pistol-grip nozzle.
  • Replace the brushes, foam, or sponges back in the gutter.

4. Finally, Check the Downspouts

  • Keeping downspouts free of debris is every bit as important as maintaining clean gutters. If downspouts are clogged, water will back up and overflow against your roof, trim, and siding. 
  • After cleaning the gutters make sure the downspouts are free of clogs.
  • Or – before you start the cleaning process – if it appears the gutters are full of debris, the downspouts may be clogged. Clean them before you begin cleaning the gutters.

Gutter guards go a long way in preventing debris build-up in your rain gutters, but they aren’t totally foolproof. Tiny twigs, roof grit, and airborne particles can and will slip through. To protect your home from water damage, gutter cleaning is vital but it can be a messy and dangerous job.

If you don’t feel confident climbing a ladder and don’t want to deal with the potential hazards of cleaning your gutters by yourself, hiring a professional is the best option. A handyman may be able to do the job, but you want to be assured that the person has current insurance, is licensed, knowledgeable, and experienced. That’s why it’s advisable to work with a licensed gutter contractor who understands the importance of properly maintained gutters.

At Spout Gutter Pros, we can quickly connect you with trustworthy professionals who know how to do the job safely and efficiently. What’s more, we ensure that every pro in our network is fully licensed and insured. They bring all the materials needed to thoroughly clean your gutters with gutter guards and make sure everything is properly cleaned up after the job.

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Spout Gutter Pros makes it fast and easy to find trusted and reputable gutter cleaning experts near you. We vet each and every professional that we recommend so you’ll have peace of mind knowing the job will be done right. Get a free quote now!