Cleaning gutters

By Tom Drake | 21st November 2023 | 5 min read

Clear your gutters to keep the water flowing

If your gutters are overflowing, are sagging or don’t appear to be draining properly, you may need to clean them. Gutters can clog with leaves and other debris, so it’s a good idea to clean them from time to time. In this guide, we take you through how you can safely clean your gutters and show you how you can keep them clear in the future.

How to clean gutters:

1. Set up your ladder
2. Secure your bucket
3. Collect debris
4. Rinse gutters

Safety

Before you start clearing your gutters it’s important to remember that climbing up ladders can be dangerous. We don’t recommend attempting to clean your gutters during windy or wet weather and if you’re not completely confident, call a professional. When clearing gutters, always wear an appropriate pair of gloves and safety glasses to prevent debris going into your eyes.

1. Set up your ladder

The first step to clearing your gutters is setting up your ladder. Always follow the specific safety instructions on your ladder, ensure it is firmly clicked into place and will extend high enough to reach your gutters.

Never lean your ladder directly on your gutters. If you’re unable to extend your ladder high enough without doing this, attach a ladder stand off. Follow the 4:1 rule, which states that your ladder should be 1 foot away from the wall it's resting on for every 4 foot of height it has.

If the ground around your ladder is uneven, you can use a ladder leveller to create a sturdier base. Always keep 3 points of contact on the ladder, and ask someone to steady the bottom of the ladder if required.

2. Secure your bucket

Now you’ve got your ladder set up, you can climb the ladder with your bucket. We recommend using an S hook to hook your bucket onto your ladder. This will allow you to keep three points of contact on your ladder as you work.

3. Clear loose debris by hand

With your bucket and ladder set up, you can start clearing your gutters.

Using your hands, scoop out any leaves and debris and place them into your bucket. Clear the area around where your ladder is set up, then climb down the ladder, empty your bucket, and move the ladder to the next section of guttering.

When clearing guttering, be wary of overstretching. It’s better to climb down and move your ladder along rather than risk falling as you try and stretch. Continue this process until all your gutters are clear of leaves and other debris.

4. Flush debris with a hose

Once you’ve cleared the larger pieces of debris, you can use your garden hose to rinse out your gutters to clear any remaining dirt and grime. When rinsing with your hose, make sure you start at the furthest point away from the downpipe so you don't have to clean the same area twice.

You can also purchase a telescopic pressure washer lance. This will allow you to rinse out your gutters using a pressure washer without needing to climb a ladder.

Repeat this process around the rest of your home and you’ll be left with a set of clear gutters.

Keeping gutters clear

Although it’s not a difficult job, clearing gutters can be time consuming. To prevent future blockages, consider investing in gutter guards.

Gutter guards are designed to stop leaves and debris entering your gutters and causing blockages. There are a number of different gutter guards available, from brushes to clip on guards. You can also purchase guards that are designed to prevent blockages in your downpipe.

Whichever you choose, this small investment can prevent you having to deal with bigger problems in the future.

Cleaning your gutters may seem tedious and time consuming, but this small maintenance job can really help you prevent any bigger problems further down the line. If you’ve spotted any issues with your guttering while cleaning, take a look at our guide to gutter repair.