How to Clean Gutters with Leaf Guards

Gutters can collect leaves, debris and more. If they clog up it could cause a leak in your roof or wall. This guide will show you how to clean them properly with leaf guards that prevent this from happening.

The “do you need to clean gutters with gutter guards” is a question that many people have been asking. The article will provide an answer to the question, and also mention how to use leaf guards.

What You’ll Require

You’ll need a few things to clean a gutter with leaf guards successfully. These are some of them:

Ladder
tarpaulin
Hose
Gloves for gardening
Sunglasses for protection
Bucket

Place a tarpaulin under the area to be cleaned.

Gutters with guards should be cleaned twice a year at the very least. This means you’ll have a lot of dirt and debris to clear out of the gutters when it’s time to clean. As a result, cleaning up once you’re done might be a pain, particularly if you don’t do it correctly.

To ensure the cleaning process is as hassle-free as possible, start by placing a tarpaulin at the bottom of the area you’re cleaning and ensure it’s well secured. The tarpaulin will catch all the droppings from the roof, thereby saving you the need to pick up dirt from the ground when you’re done. Besides, the tarpaulin protects any bushes or shrubs you may have on your property.

Place Your Ladder in the Correct Position

Once you have placed the tarpaulin and you’ve ensured it’s well secured in place, the next step is positioning your ladder. Since you’ll be climbing to the top and you’re probably going to be making a lot of movements, you need the ladder to be completely secure. To make sure of this, you can secure it with a rope onto a tree.

You might even have someone hold the ladder for you until you’re finished. You can be sure you won’t fall off this way. Even if you’ve secured the ladder with a rope, it’s a good idea to have someone keep an eye on you in case something goes wrong.

Put on protective gear and take a position.

Before getting on the ladder, ensure it’s secure. If you’re confident the ladder will hold, wear your gloves and Sunglasses for protection. Next, climb the ladder with a bucket for removing the debris from the roof. Once you get to the top, place the bucket on the roof and proceed to the next step.

Debris from the Guards should be removed.

Removing debris from the guards is straightforward. All you have to do is to pick them by hand and place them in the bucket. You can also let smaller items fall onto the tarpaulin at the bottom. If anything seems stuck, pull it out with minimal force and add it to the bucket waste as well.

Continue doing so until you’ve eliminated all of the guards. It will make the following step a lot simpler if you do so. Furthermore, you must ensure that nothing is left on the guards, since this will simply contribute to further dirt collection.

If at all possible, remove the guards.

After you’ve removed all of the trash from the guards, the guards must be removed from the gutters. Gutter guards come in a variety of styles. Some are just hung from the gutter with no attachments. Gutter brushes and plastic mesh gutter guards are two examples.

Follow the steps below to get started:

Remove the guard: If you have a gutter brush or plastic mesh cutter guards, just remove them carefully. If the guards are secured in place with screws, you’ll have to unscrew them to remove them without harming them.
Rinse the guards to eliminate any obstruction: If you see any blockage that is hindering easy removal, rinse them down before removing them. Also, look for anything that hasn’t been washed away by rains and is obstructing the guard. Remove it or rinse it down before removing the protection.
Place the guards on a secure position on top of the roof or pass them over to your assistant once they’ve been taken out.

Guards are being hosed down (For None-Removable Types)

If the gutter guards are not detachable, skip the preceding step and wash them down instead. This may need some assistance.

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Make sure you have excellent balance before starting to hose out the guards, being careful to get rid of all the dirt and debris that has gathered in the holes.
The water should flow easily through the gutter, washing away all of the debris you’re removing.
If you removed the guards, all you have to do now is hose clean the gutter, making sure there is no dirt or debris left behind.

Guards must be replaced and secured.

The guards must be replaced as the last stage. Before you do so, make sure nothing is trapped on the guards that may impede water from flowing freely into the gutters. If everything seems to be in order, continue to installing the guards.

Cleanup of the Workplace

Once your gutters and guards are squeaky clean, take the bucket and slowly go down the ladder. Wrap all the droppings on the tarpaulin by bringing the corners of the tarpaulin together and pick any debris that may have fallen away from the cloth. Gather all the dirt and dispose of it. Lastly, take down your ladder. It’s that simple!

Cleaning Gutters with Guards in Different Ways

Leaf guards may be used in a variety of ways to clean gutters. Whatever technique you choose, the first step is to inspect the condition of the guards and gutters. Examine if the gutters are blocked and, if so, what is causing the obstruction. This will assist you in determining the best approach to utilize. Here are some more options for cleaning your gutters.

With a leaf blower, you can save time.

If you clean your gutters on a regular basis, there’s a good chance you won’t have much debris to remove when it’s time to clean. In such instances, a lead blower will effectively remove all dirt and leaves from your gutter guards and gutters. Leaf blowers come with a nozzle attachment that produces a narrow stream of air, which is ideal for cleaning gutters.

Here’s how to get started.

Place a tarpaulin below your worksite: The cloth will collect all the droppings, making cleaning up after easier.
Place Your Ladder in the Correct Position: You can tie it to a strong tree or have someone to hold it in place at the bottom while you’re cleaning.
Take the leaf blower and ascend to the top of the ladder to get into position.
Clear debris from the guards using a leaf blower: Use the leaf blower to remove any leaves or debris that has gathered on the guards.
Remove the guards: If your gutter guards are detachable, remove them before moving on to the following step.
Clean out your gutters. Ascertain that your ladder is positioned in such a way that you can reach the downspout. After that, gently blow the leaves toward the downspout, being careful not to get any debris inside it.
If there’s still dirt or debris in the gutter after using the leaf blower, wash it down to get rid of it.
Clean the guards: Using a hose, clean any leftover dirt from the guards before reinstalling them.
Clean your worksite: When you’re done cleaning, collect all the droppings on your worksite and wrap the ones on the tarpaulin together as well. Finish off by taking down the ladder.

Note: If your gutter guards aren’t detachable, a leaf blower won’t be effective in clearing the debris from within the gutters. If you don’t have any guards, though, this strategy is ideal. There’s no need for a ladder. You may use a special leaf blower attachment to extend the blower to the gutters without having to climb to the top.

Using a Wet/Dry Vacuum, remove stubborn debris.

A wet/dry vacuum, believe it or not, may also be used to clean gutters. In fact, they’re ideal for clearing up obstinate material from gutters. A wet/dry vacuum is even better if it has unique attachments that enable you to reach the gutters from the ground. You won’t even need a ladder or gloves with these accessories.

You won’t have to do any cleanup afterward, either. This, however, only works if your gutters are open and without leaf guards. If you have guards in place, you’ll need to climb to the top to clean everything thoroughly. The stages to flow are as follows.

Place a tarpaulin below your worksite: The cloth will collect all the droppings, making cleaning up after easier.
Place Your Ladder in the Correct Position: You can tie it to a strong tree or have someone to hold it in place at the bottom while you’re cleaning.
Take the wet/dry vacuum and ascend to the top of the ladder to get into position.
Vacuum: Remove any trash and leaves from the guards using the dry vacuum mode.
Remove the guards: If your gutter guards are detachable, remove them before moving on to the following step.
Clean out your gutters. Ascertain that your ladder is positioned in such a way that you can reach the downspout. After that, progressively vacuum the leaves toward the downspout, being careful not to get any debris inside it. If there is dirt clinging to the gutters’ surface, use the wet option to moisten and dislodge the debris.
Hose the gutter down: If the extra dirt or debris won’t come out after vacuuming, use a hose to remove it.
Clean the guards: Using a hose, clean any leftover dirt from the guards before reinstalling them.
Clean your worksite: When you’re done cleaning, collect all the droppings on your worksite and wrap the ones on the tarpaulin together as well. Finish off by taking down the ladder.

Using a Pressure Washer to Unclog Gutters

If it’s been a while since you cleaned your gutters, you may need something more powerful to unclog them and remove all of the debris. A pressure washer is the finest technique to clear blocked gutters. Even the hardest blockages will be loosened with this appliance’s fine-spray nozzle.

However be prepared to do a lot of cleaning afterwards. Cleaning gutters using a pressure washer is quite messy. The dirt will not only spread to your roof but also nearby walls. To clean your gutters using a pressure washer, Follow the steps below to get started:

Place a tarpaulin below your worksite: The cloth will collect all the droppings, making cleaning up after easier.
Place Your Ladder in the Correct Position: You can tie it to a strong tree or have someone to hold it in place at the bottom while you’re cleaning.
Take the pressure washer and ascend to the top of the ladder to get into position.
Clean debris from the guard: Dirt clogs the gutters, not the guard, in most circumstances. If this is the case, any surface dirt on the guards may be removed using your hands. Make sure you’re wearing your gloves when doing this.
Remove the guards: If your gutter guards are detachable, remove them before moving on to the following step.
Clean out your gutters. Ascertain that your ladder is positioned in such a way that you can reach the downspout. After that, turn on the pressure washer and wipe away any leaves or debris that has accumulated within the gutters. Keep a tight eye on the downspout. A pressure washer is ideal for unclogging it if it’s blocked. To unclog the downspout, aim the nozzle toward the hose and rinse it until water flows freely.
Clean the guards: Using a hose, clean any leftover dirt from the guards before reinstalling them.
Clean your worksite: When you’re done cleaning, rinse the roof and walls that may have gotten dirty during the cleaning process. Next, collect all the droppings on your worksite and wrap the ones on the tarpaulin together as well. Finish off by taking down the ladder.

Hand-Cleaning Clogged Gutters

If your gutters are blocked and you don’t have access to a power washer, you may clean them by hand. You’ll need a gutter scoop, bucket, hose, and heavy-duty gloves for this method. Once you’ve gathered all of your materials, proceed as follows:

Place a tarpaulin below your worksite: The cloth will collect all the droppings, making cleaning up after easier.
Place Your Ladder in the Correct Position: You can tie it to a strong tree or have someone to hold it in place at the bottom while you’re cleaning.
Put on your gloves, grab the bucket and hose, and ascend to the top of the ladder to get into position.
Remove any trash and leaves from the guards: Pick up all the leaves and dirt with your hands and drop it in the bucket.
Remove the gutter guards: If your gutter guards are detachable, remove them, rinse them, and set them away before moving on to the next step.
Clean out your gutters. Remove dirt, leaves, and other debris from the gutters using the gutter scoop until they are clean. If anything is stuck, wet it with a garden hose and dislodge it with the gutter scoop, being careful to collect all the dirt in the bucket.
Clean the downspout: If the downspout is blocked, use a plumber’s snake to blast through the blockage, then rinse the downspout until the water runs freely.
Clean your worksite: When you’re done cleaning, put the guards back and collect all the droppings on your worksite. Wrap the ones on the tarpaulines together as well. Finish off by taking down the ladder.

Assemble your materials

That concludes our complete guide to cleaning gutters using leaf guards. You may also read our post, in which we discuss some of the best-reviewed gutter guards available. As you can see, there are several options. You may do it by hand, with a pressure washer, leaf blower, or wet/dry vacuum, or with a pressure washer, leaf blower, or wet/dry vacuum. The strategy that is ideal for you will be determined by the status of your gutter. If it’s blocked, a pressure washer will go a long way toward clearing it. Check out our post on how to keep pine needles out of your gutters for more information.

For unclogged gutters that are cleaned on a regular basis, the other options are ideal. So, choose your favorite approach and get to work!

To clean gutters with leaf guards, one must first remove the leaves. Once that is done, they can use a hose to rinse off the clogged gutter guard. Reference: can gutter guards get clogged.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clean gutters without removing gutter guards?

A: You can clean gutters by using a broom and dustpan. Make sure you are wearing gloves before doing so, as it may be necessary to use soap or water on the gutter guards in order not to damage them while cleaning your gutters.

Do you clean gutters with gutter guards?

A: I am not a cleaning tool.

How do you clean out leaf guard gutters?

A: You need to clean the gutters out on a regular basis. Doing this will ensure that the leaves do not build up and cause blockages in your gutter system, which can lead to more expensive problems down the road.

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