Monday Madness: Cleaning Out Your Gutters

Cleaning out your rain gutters can be a dreadful hassle, but there are a few helpful tips that you can use to make the task as painless as possible.

• Wear rubber gloves. protective eye wear, and a long-sleeved shirt.
• Use an appropriate ladder that is stable.
• Have a buddy nearby to ensure safety and move the process along more quickly.
• Rake your roof first so that the next time it rains it doesn't just clog up your gutters, again.
• Don't waste your money on a fancy gutter scoop. A plain-Jane plastic cup or kids shovel will do the job. Metal scoops can cause damage. 
• Dump your gunk onto a plastic tarp below you to alleviate hassle and save your lawn.
• Once you clean them out, flush the gutter with a garden hose.
• Record the date that you decide to clean them out so that the following year you don't get too far behind, making the task a little easier.

image via http://www.neiltortorella.com

At the end of the day, cleaning out your gutters will pay off. It doesn't need to be done too often. Once a year will suffice, and it will save you time and money in the long run. Checking this tedious task off your annual to-do list will help protect your siding, prevent damaging your foundation, and even save your landscaping.



Sources
www.houselogic.com
www.gutterglove.com