How to Clean Gutters Without Using a Ladder

It might not be the most enjoyable task, but cleaning out your gutters is necessary for maintaining a happy and healthy home. If you’re like most people, though, you’d probably rather not have to climb your ladder every time to clean them out. Not only is it time-consuming, but it can also be pretty dangerous, considering that you’re putting yourself at a high risk of falling.

The good news is that you can clean your gutters from the ground without using a ladder. We’re going to cover several options in this blog, which you can choose from, whether you decide to use one of them or multiple.

If you’d prefer help from an expert, though, you can always contact our team at Legacy Service. We’ve been helping homeowners improve their living space since 2005, and we have over 15 years of experience in the industry. Whether you’re looking for tips about how to clean your gutters without using a ladder, or you’d rather hire a professional to do it for you, you can always turn to us. Keep reading to see what we suggest or contact us at 215-798-9790 to get in touch with one of our experts.

How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?

A good rule of thumb is that you should clean your gutters at least twice a year. Most people choose to clean them in the spring and fall because that’s when the weather tends to be the mildest. However, you might want to clean them more often than that if you live in an area with a lot of trees, wind, or storms. Excessive debris can clog your gutters, which can cause problems throughout other areas of your home. You should also get your gutters inspected about every three months.

Gutter Vacuum

One way you can start cleaning out your gutters without a ladder is by using a gutter vacuum. The best part is that you can clear debris from your gutters, including leaves, twigs, and pine needles, while standing safely on the ground the entire time. In most cases, the gutter vacuum attachment will fit on the end of a Shop-Vac or leaf blower, and it works by curling over the gutter’s edge and sucking the leaves and debris into a bag or vacuum chamber. This might not pick up all of the junk hiding in your gutters, so you’ll probably need to use other pieces of equipment to finish cleaning them.

Steps to take: 

1. Secure your attachment to a leaf-blower or Shop-Vac and position yourself at the end of the gutter.
2. Hold the attachment so that it’s right above the gutter.
3. Turn on the vacuum and work your way from one end to the other.
4. Repeat these steps for all of the gutters on your home.
5. You can also provide a deeper clean by using a hose to wet the gutters after you’ve removed most of the debris, and then repeat the vacuum process.

Leaf Blower

Another way you can clean out your gutters from ground level is by using a leaf blower. Most leaf blower models come with a special nozzle attachment that you can attach and remove at will. If yours didn’t come with an attachment, you can also purchase it separately. Here are the steps you to take when using a leaf blower for the job:

Steps to take:

1. Fasten the attachment to the leaf blower.
2. Find a position at the end of your gutter to stand. Hold the attachment so that it’s right above the gutter.
3. Turn on the leaf blower and blow the leaves and debris out of the gutter. Work your way from one end to the other.
4. Repeat these steps with all of the gutters throughout your home.

If you have yet to purchase a leaf blower, take note of the different types. There are three main kinds you can choose from. They include:

• Walk-Behind – This type is for big jobs that need to be done quickly. Professional crews typically use this for heavy paper and cardboard, other garbage, and lots of leaves.
• Handheld – The handheld leaf blower is known for being versatile and lightweight. It’s ideal for small lawns, porches, and gazebos.
• Backpack – If you need more power and a longer run time, we suggest a handheld leaf blower. Owners tend to use these for large shops and fields that cover a lot of ground.

Gutter Flusher and Cleaner

Some homeowners like to use gutter flushers and cleaners. Maybe you should give it a try!

A gutter flusher uses a high-powered jet stream hose attachment to get rid of debris that can lead to costly damage. Many gutter flushers will come with extendable metal poles, which you can attach to basically any garden hose. The problem with gutter flushers, though, is that they can make a mess since water and debris can fly everywhere. And sometimes, they may not even get all of the junk out of your gutters.

The gutter cleaning applicator is another piece of equipment you can use for gutter cleaning from the ground. This attaches to an extendable painter’s pole (not included with the product), and it allows you to wipe off exterior gutter services from the ground.

Power Washer

If you’re wondering how to clean rain gutters from the ground using a power washer, continue reading this section. We’re going to provide you with the steps you need to take to clear your gutters out and get them squeaky-clean.

Steps to take:

1. You’ll need a telescoping wand and U-shaped attachment along with the power washer, so if you don’t have them, take a trip to your local home improvement store.
2. Secure the wand and attachment to the power washer.
3. Wear goggles and a rain jacket, since you’ll probably get wet.
4. Find a position for yourself at the end of the gutter.
5. Hold the attachment out, so it’s right above the gutter.
6. Turn on the power washer, and walk from one end of the gutter to the other. Make sure you pause every few minutes to allow the water to drain.
7. Complete these steps for each of your gutters.
8. Wash the exteriors of your gutters as well for a deeper clean.

Many people tend to forget about their gutters until something goes wrong, but keeping up with their maintenance will do wonders for your home!

Garden Hose

Almost everyone who owns a house with gutters has a garden hose. The only thing you may need to purchase is a special gutter-cleaning attachment. Here are the steps to take when cleaning your gutters with a garden hose:

Steps to take:

1. If you don’t already have one, pick up a gutter-cleaning attachment for your garden house. They can be found at a local home improvement store.
2. Attach it to the hose.
3. Wear goggles and a rain jacket because you’ll probably get wet.
4. Find a position to stand underneath your gutter and hold the attachment so that it’s above the gutter.
5. Turn on the hose.
6. Go from one end of the gutter to the other, and pause every few minutes to let the water drain.
7. Repeat for the rest of the gutters.
8. Wash the gutters’ exteriors for a deeper clean.

It’s Time to Clean Your Gutters!

We hope this article has helped you learn how to clean gutters from the ground. No matter which method you choose, you can rest assured that it’ll get the job done. Cleaning your gutters is a subtle way of helping the rest of your home’s exterior look cleaner.

Our team at Legacy Service wants you to know that we can help you with whatever you need regarding your home exterior. Whether you need gutter replacement or roofing and siding installation, please feel free to contact us at any time. Learn more by giving us a call at 215-798-9790 or filling out a contact form at https://legacyusa.com/contact/.