Cleaning Aluminum Rain Gutters

Removing leaves by hand with a gutter trowel with your garden hose etc or it can be done with the help of machines like a pressure washer.

Cleaning aluminum rain gutters.

Use a sprayer attachment if you have one to increase the water pressure. A simple solution of water and white vinegar works very well for cleaning the outside of the gutters and won t corrode aluminum. You can also make a paste with a small amount of water and cream of tartar which will act as a cleaner and gentle buffing agent in one. Spray the gutters toward each of the downspouts to rinse remaining debris out of the gutters.

When possible avoid cleaning gutters after a rain. This job does however involve working on a ladder. Fortunately cleaning gutters and downspouts is a pretty easy job and a couple of cleanings each year should keep them flowing freely. Flush the gutters with a garden hose.

You ll run out of cleaning solution really quickly if the water is on full blast. It attacks the oxidation and not the paint or material. F 13 gutter grenade is a multipurpose gutter cleaner that s safe for all types of gutters. Start your gutter cleaning task near the downspout and work toward the closed end.

For that mix half cup of household liquid detergent with a half cup of bleach in two gallons of water. Then turn the water to the hose on but not at full power. To remove the gunk from the gutters use a small plastic scoop. For aluminum try gutter zap which removes electrostatic bonded streaks with little scrubbing.

If you have an old plastic kitchen spatula that works too and it won t damage the gutters. Carry the nozzle of the hose with you up the ladder to the gutters. Use some elbow grease or a power washer. Gutter scoops are available at the hardware store or a child s sandbox shovel also works just fine.

Pull the hose to the furthest end of the gutters with enough slack so that you can lift the bottle over your head comfortably. Adjust the red tip depending on the height of the gutters. Use this solvent to scrub off the outer surface of your gutters with a stiff brush or a piece of cloth. Allowing a few dry days before cleaning your gutters will allow the debris to dry out making the chore much easier.

Make sure you have a sturdy extension ladder that is long enough to reach the edge of your roof and always follow safe practices when using a ladder. Even for vinyl gutters liquid detergent alone cannot be used to clean the gutters properly.