Cleaning Aluminum Rain Gutters

Cleaning your gutters means thoroughly removing any debris that may be on them such as leaves rocks and birds nests to name a few.

Cleaning aluminum rain gutters.

If you have an old plastic kitchen spatula that works too and it won t damage the gutters. When possible avoid cleaning gutters after a rain. Pull the hose to the furthest end of the gutters with enough slack so that you can lift the bottle over your head comfortably. For aluminum try gutter zap which removes electrostatic bonded streaks with little scrubbing.

Flush the gutters with a garden hose. You ll run out of cleaning solution really quickly if the water is on full blast. Adjust the red tip depending on the height of the gutters. Fortunately cleaning gutters and downspouts is a pretty easy job and a couple of cleanings each year should keep them flowing freely.

This could be done through manual processes ie. Spray the gutters toward each of the downspouts to rinse remaining debris out of the gutters. To remove the gunk from the gutters use a small plastic scoop. Use a sprayer attachment if you have one to increase the water pressure.

Even for vinyl gutters liquid detergent alone cannot be used to clean the gutters properly. F 13 gutter grenade is a multipurpose gutter cleaner that s safe for all types of gutters. Gutter scoops are available at the hardware store or a child s sandbox shovel also works just fine. It attacks the oxidation and not the paint or material.

Removing leaves by hand with a gutter trowel with your garden hose etc or it can be done with the help of machines like a pressure washer. Make sure you have a sturdy extension ladder that is long enough to reach the edge of your roof and always follow safe practices when using a ladder. A simple solution of water and white vinegar works very well for cleaning the outside of the gutters and won t corrode aluminum. Allowing a few dry days before cleaning your gutters will allow the debris to dry out making the chore much easier.

Use some elbow grease or a power washer. Start your gutter cleaning task near the downspout and work toward the closed end. You can also make a paste with a small amount of water and cream of tartar which will act as a cleaner and gentle buffing agent in one. Simple green makes a concentrated environmentally safe cleaner with good stain removing properties.

This job does however involve working on a ladder. Carry the nozzle of the hose with you up the ladder to the gutters.