You can purchase a basic gutter-cleaning attachment for around $30. You may also be able to find these accessories at your local hardware store or home improvement center. [2] X Research source If you don’t already own a wet/dry vacuum, you can get one of these from your local home improvement center, as well. They typically cost about $100 brand new, and around $20 per day to rent. Depending on the height of your gutters, it may be necessary to connect your vacuum extension to one or more extension wands to make sure it will reach.
To ensure that your makeshift gutter attachment holds together, use a strong type of tape, like duct or Gorilla tape. Aluminum duct elbows cost about $5 apiece at most hardware stores, which means you can save roughly $20 by cobbling together your own attachment if you already have a suitable roll of tape.
Stand as far back from the gutter as you can while staying within a comfortable cleaning distance to avoid being covered by falling debris.
You’ll also want to avoid accidentally pulling on your gutters with the hook-like attachment. If you tug too hard, you could actually damage the gutter. Vacuuming will work best for dry and partially-damp debris, such as leaves, twigs, and pine needles. If your gutters are filled with soggy, mulch-like clumps, you may get better results using a gutter flusher or gutter cleaning tool. [6] X Research source
Your gutter flusher may or may not come with its own extended handle. If it doesn’t, or if it’s still not long enough to reach your gutters, you’ll need to buy a separate flow-through extension pole to attach it to. You can often find one of these for as little as $20-30. There are also gutter flushers intended to quick-couple to the nozzles of any sprayer or pressure washer with a wand. One of these attachments can come in handy if you’d rather not have to wrangle your hose every time you clean your gutters. [8] X Research source
Be sure to read through the instructions that came with your gutter flusher to familiarize yourself with its basic design and function before taking it out for its maiden cleaning.
Despite featuring only a single nozzle, most gutter flushers produce a wide, fanning stream that help make sure the tool does its job even if it’s not being held at a perfect downward angle. If you’re running your gutter flusher through a pressure washer or sprayer wand, you’ll need to hold down the device’s trigger in order to release the stream. [11] X Research source Gutter flushers emit fairly large quantities of water, which means you may see a slight increase in your utility bill if you use yours regularly.
Gutter flushers tend to do a faster and more thorough job of cleaning out stopped-up gutters than vacuum attachments or manual removal tools.
You can buy a no-frills gutter rake attachment for around $15-20, while a set of tongs may run you $30 or more. Both of these tools are designed to attach to the end of an ordinary extension pole, which should add no more than $10-20 to your total cost.
Strap on a facemask and wear sunglasses or similar eye protection to prevent small pieces of loose debris from falling into your eyes, nose, and mouth as you work. While it’s possibly the cheapest solution overall, raking out your gutters can be difficult, time-consuming work. Be prepared to take short breaks as often as needed when your arms start to tire.
It’s also a good idea to wear a facemask and eye protection when working with gutter tongs, as you’re likely to be sprinkled with drifting debris. If you plan on picking up the debris you clear out of your gutters, try to concentrate as much as you can in the same general area. This will make it much easier to deal with later.
The decomposing leaves, sticks, and other organic matter in your gutters can make excellent compost.
