Three Gutter Cleaning Hacks

3 Gutter Cleaning Hacks

Ingenious ways to work around traditional gutter cleaning

Cleaning out the gutters is one of the least popular chores that homeowners have to endure-not only because it is time-consuming, but because it can be genuinely dangerous, as well. Traditional gutter cleaning requires ladder climbing, which can lead to falls and injuries. One way to play it safe is to avoid ever setting foot on a ladder-a definite challenge, but one that is made possible by these inventive gutter hacks.

Gutter Blaster

On the TruTV program “Hack My House,” house “hackspert” David Switalski demonstrated the proper way to create and use a “gutter blaster.” Using an electric leaf blower, two-inch PVC pipe, duct tape and pipe fittings, Switalski was able to make a helpful and clever device that saves homeowners from climbing up ladder steps.Use a tape measure to measure from the height of your hip to the height of the gutter, and then cut your 2-inch PVC pipe to that same exact length. Next, attach some pipe fittings to one end of the pipe to create a bend that will cause the air to blow downwards. Then, attach the other end of the pipe to your leaf blower, using duct tape to create a temporary but secure bond. And voila-now you have a way to blow leaves out of your gutter from the comfort of your yard. To see a video demonstration of the gutter blaster in action, go to http://www.trutv.com/shows/hack-my-life/videos/hack-my-house-gutter-blaster.html

Waterworks

Although it may seem a little ironic, water can actually be an effective tool for cleaning out your gutters. Although a hard rain may leave your gutters messier than ever, a concentrated and carefully controlled stream of water can help eliminate heavy decaying debris.The website BobVilla.com recommends that homeowners who have a garden hose and connected outdoor spigot consider purchasing a long, telescoping hose with an angled, downward-pointing spray nozzle (and if necessary, a hose extender for reaching gutters). While an effective way to clear gutters and downspouts, the hose method does present some disadvantages. For starters, you are guaranteed to get wet while doing it, so be sure to wear your work clothes. Additionally, some mud will most likely find its way onto the roof and exterior walls of your home, as well sections of your lawn and driveway, which would require an additional round of rinsing and scrubbing.

Expand your tool shed

There are a few tools that are designed especially for the task of gutter clearing. Chief among them are “GutterTongs,” which are exactly what they sound like. GutterTongs work on any size or shape of gutters, eliminating the need for a ladder climbing by scooping out leaves with the same kind of tongs you would use to toss a salad (except these ones have arms that can reach up to 12 feet in height). The tongs can also be used to hold a hose in place, so that you can rinse your gutters out after clearing them of debris.Cultivators are another tool that can come in handy when cleaning gutters, if you happen to live in a single-story home, since they can extend to lengths of up to five or six feet. Though usually used to till soil, cultivators are also capable of getting leaves out of clogged gutters.These are just some of the ways that you can clear your gutters without ever leaving the ground. However, all of them still require a fair amount of work and special tools. To avoid even having to clean your gutters in the first place, consider upgrading your gutters to keep leaves out.

This article is presented by Maritime Chevrolet in Fairfield, Connecticut.

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