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How to clean gutters safely

Clogged gutters spill water against your house and foundation. Cleaning them is simple work, but the ladder is the dangerous part, so most of this guide is about using it well.

Updated · 8 min read

  • DifficultyModerate
  • Time1–3 hours for a one-story house
  • If you need helpRoofer

Gutters catch rain from the roof and send it down the downspouts and away from your house. When they fill with leaves and muck, water spills over the edge and soaks the ground right next to the foundation. That can lead to wet basements, rotted trim and, in cold places, ice buildup at the roof edge.

Scooping out a gutter is easy. Falling off a ladder is not. Most of the risk in this job comes from the ladder, so take the setup slowly, and do not hesitate to hire it out if your house is tall or your roof is steep.

For a one-story home, plan on one to three hours, depending on how many trees you have. Pick a dry, calm day.

What you'll need

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See our home repair safety basics before you climb.

Set up the ladder the safe way

Take your time here. These rules come from OSHA and CPSC.

  1. Check overhead first. Look up and find every wire before you raise the ladder. Carry the ladder lowered, and get help with a long one. Use a fiberglass or wood ladder, not metal, anywhere near wires.
  2. Inspect the ladder. Look for cracked rails, bent or loose rungs and worn feet. Do not use a damaged ladder.
  3. Set the angle. OSHA says to place the base one quarter of the ladder's working length out from the wall. For every 4 feet up, the feet go 1 foot out.
  4. Get solid footing. Set the feet on firm, level ground. On soft or uneven ground, CPSC suggests a wide, flat board under the feet. Have a helper hold the bottom.
  5. Extend it high enough. The ladder should reach at least 3 feet above the edge it rests against. Make sure the extension locks are fully engaged.
  6. Use a standoff. A standoff attaches to the top of the ladder and holds it away from the gutter, so you are not leaning on the gutter and you can reach into it.

While you are on the ladder

  • Face the ladder and keep three points of contact while climbing: two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand.
  • Do not stand on the top three rungs of an extension ladder.
  • Keep your belt buckle between the rails. If you have to stretch, climb down and move the ladder.
  • Stay under the ladder's weight rating, counting you, your tools and the bucket.
  • Only one person on the ladder at a time.

Clean the gutters

  1. Start near a downspout. Lowe's suggests starting at the downspout and clearing the strainer or opening first, so water has somewhere to go later.
  2. Scoop it out. Work in small sections. Scoop leaves and muck into your bucket or drop it onto a tarp below. Wear gloves; gutters can hide sharp screws and broken metal.
  3. Move the ladder often. Clean only what you can reach easily. Climb down, move the ladder, and climb back up. This is slower but much safer.
  4. Flush the gutter. Once the big stuff is out, run a hose from the far end toward the downspout. Avoid spraying up under the shingles.
  5. Watch the water. It should flow steadily to the downspout. Standing puddles mean the gutter has sagged or is not sloped right.

Clear the downspouts

If water backs up when you flush the gutter, the downspout is clogged.

  1. Try water first. Push the hose up into the downspout from the bottom and turn it on full.
  2. Use an auger if needed. Feed a hand auger into the downspout, turning as you go, then pull back to bring the clog out.
  3. Take it apart if it is a removable section. If the downspout connects to an underground drain, cover that opening with a bucket while you work so debris does not wash into it.
  4. Check where it drains. The U.S. Department of Energy's building guidance says downspouts should discharge at least 5 feet from the foundation onto ground that slopes away. A downspout extension can fix one that ends too close.

When to call a pro

Hire a gutter cleaner or roofer if:

  • Your home is two stories or taller, or the gutters are hard to reach from the ground.
  • Your roof is steep, or you would need to walk on it.
  • Power lines run near the roof edge or the spot you need to set the ladder.
  • Gutters are sagging, pulling away, leaking at seams, or rusted through.
  • You see rotted fascia boards, damaged shingles or water stains inside.
  • You are uneasy on ladders, have balance or vision problems, or nobody can be home with you.

Renters, gutter cleaning is often the landlord's job, so ask first. Still deciding? Try the fix-or-call quiz.

Keep it from happening again

  • Clean gutters at least once a year, and before winter in cold climates. Add it to your fall maintenance checklist.
  • Consider gutter guards, then check them in spring and fall.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof (hire a tree pro near power lines).
  • Keep downspouts attached and their outlets pointed away from the house.

Common questions

How often should gutters be cleaned?

At least once a year, and more often if you have trees over the roof. Many people clean them in late fall after the leaves drop and again in spring. Cleaning before winter matters most in cold climates, where clogged gutters can freeze.

Can I lean my ladder against the gutter?

It is better not to. Gutters can bend or pull loose, and a ladder resting on them is less stable. A ladder standoff, also called a stabilizer, holds the ladder off the gutter and against the wall or roof instead.

Is it safe to clean gutters on a two-story house myself?

For most people, no. The ladder has to be much taller and heavier, and a fall from that height is far more serious. Hire a gutter or roofing pro for two-story homes and steep roofs.

Where should my downspouts drain?

Away from the house. Building science guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy says downspouts should discharge at least 5 feet from the foundation onto ground that slopes away.

Sources

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