Some Very Handy Tips for Cleaning Your Home Gutters

Fall is in full swing, and the trees in your area are probably shedding leaves like they're snowflakes. Before real snow descends, however, you might want to check your gutters to see if they're choked with fallen leaves. Cleaning them now prevents them from being clogged by ice and snow when the winter rolls in.

Begin by setting the ladder near a corner downspout. Using a trowel or your gloved hands, carefully pull away the leaves and twigs from the spout so that none will fall in and cause a clog. Take it slowly but surely until you finish an entire length.

You may bring a plastic bag with you when you go up and dump the leaves in it. Alternatively, you can set a wheelbarrow or a section of tarp beneath the ladder and just drop what you scoop out there. Don't get rid of the leaves though—they'll make for great compost or mulch for your plants.

With the leaves gone, spray down the gutters to clean out whatever debris might have been left behind. This is also a good opportunity to check if they have any leaks, which a silicone sealant will easily patch up. You may also purchase products like GutterHelmet so that leaves slide of your roof instead of falling into and clogging your gutter.