You can clean your gutters yourself, with a little physical fitness, agility, and patience, but know that it’s a tough job. You can learn how to clean gutters yourself and save yourself a chunk of cash, or you can hire the professionals to clean your gutter for you—we’ll even give you a sense of how much it costs to clean gutters. Here, you’ll learn how to clean gutters, see the supplies you’ll need to get the job done, find out how often you need to clean your gutters, and more. Knowledge is power, and if it falls on you to keep your house in good shape, you’re going to want to know how to clean gutters so you can do it yourself in a pinch. Just be smart about deciding to clean your gutters yourself: It’s a tough, risky job, particularly if you have a multi-story house.
The supplies you need to clean gutters
extension ladder with stabilizer attachment (this is so the ladder doesn’t have to rest against the gutters, which could cause damage)work gloveshand trowelhose with sprayerrakeplastic garbage bags (or, ideally, compostable paper leaf bags)rubber-soled shoes (to prevent slipping)patience (this job can take several hours if your house is large).
How to clean gutters
How often to clean gutters
We recommend that you clean your gutters twice a year—once in the spring and once in the fall, when your yard gets the heaviest rain and leaf accumulation. If you have an unusually stormy season or live in a heavily forested area, consider adding a third gutter-cleaning each year.
How much gutter cleaning costs
The national average cost for cleaning gutters is $157 and can range between $118 and $225, according to HomeAdvisor. Note that gutter cleaning costs are typically calculated based on the size of your home, so taller homes—homes with second or third stories—will cost more. HomeAdvisor’s data says gutter cleaning for two-story homes can cost between $90 and $225 per cleaning, and three-story homes (or taller) can cost an additional $75 to $200 per cleaning. If you don’t want to clean your gutters yourself, hiring a pro is always an option—just be aware of the costs.
