Cleaning your gutters is an important, albeit boring and aggravating, step to take in order to maintain your home.  It is important for a variety of reasons even though it is one of the worst chores of summer. There is no one out there who enjoys digging their hands into their gutters, removing biodegrading leaves and the sludge that they leave behind, and doing so while standing on a ladder at least 8 or 9 feet off the ground. But if you’re going to do this necessary task, it behooves you to take a few precautions to enable you to safely perform it.

Must I Really Clean My Gutter?

Not at all. You’re free to neglect your gutters, or any other part of your home if you wish to.  However, doing so will eventually cause damage to your home.  In the case of failing to clean your gutters, it can cause damages including:
  • Damage to the gutters
  • Foundation damage
  • Can cause water to back up into the roof, causing damage to the roof, ceiling, and walls
  • And much more…
As you can plainly see, cleaning your gutters, though unpleasant, is not a task without a reason behind it. However, you owe it to yourself and to your friends and family to take basic precautions when you are cleaning your gutters.

Gutter Cleaning Safety Tips

If you’re going to be cleaning your gutters, there are a few basic safety tips that you can follow to make sure that you are safe and your gutter cleaning expedition doesn’t turn into a trip to the hospital with a broken arm.
  • Choose a good ladder. Choosing a good ladder means finding one that is sturdy, and one that can reach the gutters without too much trouble.  If you can barely reach the gutters from the top usable step, you are using the wrong ladder for the job.
  • Inspect your ladder before use, and have a friend assist you in steadying the ladder. Inspect that the steps are sturdy, that the screws are in proper shape, and that the ladder is not likely to fall apart during use.
  • Maintain three points of contact when working on a ladder.  Both of your feet and one hand should be in contact with the ladder in order to ensure that you will be secure while working.
  • When working on the gutter, wear eye protection and gloves, preferably gloves that you will not mind throwing away after the job is done. Gutters are often home to wasps, bees, and similar irritating stinging creatures, as well as to other wildlife.
  • Inspect your gutters before you begin. This will hopefully help you to avoid angering any creatures who may be living in your gutters.
Above all else, when you are working on the gutters from your ladder, use common sense.  Get a friend or family member to hold the ladder to keep it steady, and realize that there is nothing in your gutters that is worth risking your neck for. If you’re not sure that you can complete the job safely, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional to help you with your gutter maintenance duties, such as the folks at National Home Improvement.