Have you ever seen a small tree growing out of a gutter? What were you thoughts of the maintenance on that building? Unsightly gutters not only make your facility appear dirty, but they can lead to unnecessary expenses. For example, a clogged gutter left unattended can lead to build up of debris and water in your gutter. The water then, when it becomes frozen can be very heavy, leading to either bent or cracked gutters. In some cases the water can become so heavy it can ruin the roof as well. So in order to avoid thousands of dollars in repairs each year, it is better to address the problem before it gets worse.
Tips for cleaning gutters
Ladder. Likely, you will need a ladder in order to reach your gutters. Selecting and using a ladder correctly is essential to your safety and the safety of others. A step ladder is much easier to balance on, making it a safer option. Thus, if you can easily access the gutters with a step ladder, by all means use it.
Extension Ladders. If you have to use an extension ladder to reach the gutters, place the ladder securely on the side of the building or the roof. Do not place it on the gutter itself as this can bend or even crack the gutter. Consider using a stand off as this allows the ladder to, as the name implies, stand off from the home making it easier to access the gutters.
Do not over extend. Overextending to the right or to the left on a ladder in order to reach the gutters can be very dangerous. Not only could this lead to the whole ladder falling to one side, but it also can strain your muscles as well. Never over extend to reach a gutter. If the gutter is too far away, simply move the ladder to a more accessible point. Also, never stand on the last step of a ladder as your weight can make it less secure and unbalanced.
Think safety. Not only do you want to think safety when it comes to working on a ladder, but you want to protect your body. Among other things, you will find twigs and other potentially sharp objects in the gutter. The gutter in itself can also be sharp. In order to prevent bodily harm make sure to wear heavy duty gloves as well as safety glasses when cleaning out the gutters.
Wash it out. After you have removed all the debris from the gutters it is good to run water through the gutters. This will not wash out some of the little debris that perhaps you have missed, but it will flush out the entire gutter systems. This is also a good way to check for leaks, holes, cracks and clogged downspouts.
Wash the Outside. Don't forget to wash the outside of the gutter. Often times what normally are white and clean gutters can become black and dirty from dirt and mildew build up. Use the detergent cleaner mentioned below to restore your gutters back to their original color.
Apply a gutter cover. If your building is surrounded by lots of trees and you are finding large amounts of leaves and debris in your gutters, you may find a gutter cover to be helpful. This allows the water to drain into the gutter, but it keeps the unwanted debris and other things out.
Clean bi-annually. Generally it is beneficial to clean your gutters twice a year, once in the fall and again in the spring. By doing so your gutters will work more efficiently.
Tools for cleaning gutters
Attack Mildew & Stain Remover is a great product for cleaning gutters. As mentioned earlier, dirt, grime and mildew built up on the outside of your gutters can make your facility look dirty. If they are not treated right away this can lead to heavy stains. The only way to address heavily stained gutters is with very powerful chemicals or by replacing them all together.
Attack Mildew & Stain Remover can be very effective in restoring your gutters back their original look. Simply dilute as directed on the bottle and apply to the gutter surface. Allow some time to dwell. Then rinse with a pressure washer.
If you are having difficulty removing some of the stains, you may want to use a soft bristle scrub brush. Lightly scrub the affected area with the stain remover, allow to dwell and then rinse clean.
This product does contain bleach. Therefore, always test a small area first to see how it will affect the gutter. Beach can also kill vegetation. Make sure to either water down any plants below or cover them before you begin.
Avoid unnecessary repairs and expenses by following these helpful gutter cleaning tips.
