Cleaning your gutters is a seasonal chore that many homeowners often forget or put off until next season – if they remember at all. It’s not a chore that many people look forward to doing and this could be partially due to using the wrong tools. Many homeowners will opt for a simple gloved hand, some a trowel and others may even use sticks picked up from their lawn or roof. Below, we’ll discuss 5 of the best tools to use when you’re cleaning your gutter to help make this dreaded chore a little more tolerable.
1. A Durable Ladder
Nothing’s more important when you’re doing work on your roof or gutters than a trusted ladder. It’s important to have a ladder you know you can count on to hold your weight. By choosing a ladder that is at least three feet taller than your gutter line, you can look down while you’re working to help get the job done quicker.
2. Heavy-duty Work Gloves
Work gloves will help protect your hands from sharp pine needles, roots, twigs, or unexpected insects when dealing with gutter debris and clogs. A good pair of heavy-duty work gloves will allow your hands full movement while still fitting snugly. This will allow you to grab the gutter debris by the handful and toss onto your work space below.
3. Plastic Sheet or Tarp
It’s not necessary, but it’s handy to lay down plastic painters cloth or a trusty tarp on the ground below your work space so you can toss the debris down without a thought, allowing you to work faster and more efficiently. Often times this is implemented if you are using a gloved hand or a small garden trowel, scooping debris and tossing it down. Once your finished with the job, you can roll the tarp or cloth up and slide the debris into the trash, saving you hours of cleanup.
4. Plumbing Snake
A plumbing snake is useful for stubborn clogs that just won’t come loose, particularly when dealing with downspouts or elbow curves. Once the clog has loosened, using a high-pressure hose or pressure washer nozzle can help you dislodge the clog entirely.
5. A Pressure Washer Nozzle
This is an important part to implement especially when it comes to unwanted clogs in downspouts. This will also allow you to rinse off the outside of your gutter and return it to a shine, boosting your home’s curb appeal. It’s important to take care of using a pressure washer on the inside of your gutter channels as this can potentially damage or dent the inside of the downspout if done improperly. On the outside of your gutter system, it can easily remove paint from the outside of your gutter system. You can often attach a pressure washer nozzle to the end of your average garden hose instead of purchasing a separate, pricey pressure washer system.
