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Cleaning your gutters is one of those fall chores where timing is everything. Do it too early, and you’ll likely find yourself back on the ladder a few weeks later once the rest of the leaves come down. If you wait too long, you risk clogged gutters overflowing during a rainstorm, which can lead to water damage around your roof, siding, and foundation.
So when exactly is the sweet spot? I spoke to two experts to find out when you should clean your gutters and how to do it safely and effectively.
When is the right time to clean your gutters?
The best way to tell if it is time to clean your gutters is to look at the trees around your yard. “Ideally, you want to do a major clean right after the majority of the leaves have fallen — usually late autumn,” says Zack Nienaber, owner of Nienaber and Sons Lawn Care in Cincinnati. “If you do it too early before the trees shed, you’ll just end up having to do it all over again once the rest drops.”
That said, the exact timing depends on where you live and what kinds of trees surround your home, which is why you really need to let your yard be your guide rather than the calendar. Once the branches overhead look mostly bare, it’s time to get to work. Just don’t put it off for too long: Gutters packed with leaves can’t drain properly, so the next heavy rain could send water spilling over the sides — and the U.S. has been seeing a lot of rain this season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
What do you need to clean your gutters?
Cleaning your gutters probably isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun weekend, but it doesn’t have to be miserable, either. I’m sharing expert steps on how to do it below, but first, here are some tools that can make the job faster, safer, and a lot less messy. These are the types of tools the experts I spoke to suggest having on hand before you start.
A good extension ladder will help you reach the gutters, says Nienaber. This fiberglass extension ladder reaches up to 21 feet when fully extended, giving you enough height to get to second-story gutters. It supports up to 300 pounds and has slip-resistant, D-shaped rungs to help you keep your footing while you work. The swivel safety shoes at the base help keep the ladder steady. One helpful tip: “Don’t lean the ladder against the gutters — it can bend or crush them,” says Nienaber. “Instead, rest it against the roof.”
Nienaber says a plastic gutter scooper can help you get debris out while protecting your hands. This one is made from high-impact polypropylene and has a deep, curved scoop that lets you grab big clumps of wet leaves at once. It also has an ergonomic handle and fits most gutters, according to the brand.
Gloves protect your hands from sharp twigs, rough gutter edges, and all the wet muck you’ll be scooping out. This pair has padded synthetic leather palms that help you keep a firm grip on your ladder and tools, plus a stretchy, breathable back so your hands stay comfortable. They’re also flexible enough that you can handle a scoop or hose.
If you’d rather stay off a ladder, this cordless leaf blower comes with a 4.5-foot attachment that lets you clear leaves from your gutters while standing on the ground. It has a brushless motor with two speed settings. The kit also comes with two 40-volt batteries and a charger.
How to clean your gutters
- Take time to set up your station: Before you start pulling out leaves, set yourself up to work safely. “Make sure your ladder is on stable, level ground,” says Nienaber, who also suggests wearing thick gloves. “I then like to scoop the debris out by hand into a bucket rather than blasting everything down the downspout (the vertical pipe that goes from gutter to ground) and packing it solid.”
- Create a game plan for the process: Where you start matters, too. “Begin at the downspout and proceed to the far end of the gutter — this way, you will clear the downspout opening first and prevent yourself from pushing debris into it,” says Constantine Anest, owner of Ethos Roofing & Restoration in Denver.
- Rinse last: After you’ve removed the leaves and twigs, finish with a rinse. “Once the bulk is out, flush the system with a hose to make sure the water flows freely through the spouts,” says Nienaber.
Frequently asked questions
Putting off the job can lead to much bigger and more expensive problems than a few stray leaves. “It gets messy fast — heavy, wet leaves turn into packed sludge that adds a ton of weight, which can pull the gutters right off the fascia boards,” says Nienaber. “Worse, blocked water overflows right against your foundation, which leads to basement leaks, or it freezes up into ice dams when winter hits.” In other words, an hour or two on a ladder this fall could save you from costly repairs down the line.
You can usually tell your gutters are due for a cleaning without ever climbing a ladder. If you see leaves peeking out of the top of your gutters, that is a good sign. Or, if water spills over the edge during a rainstorm instead of flowing into the downspout, says Anest. If you spot either one, it’s time to clear your gutters out before the next storm rolls in.
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Meet our home care experts
At NBC Selected, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Zack Nienaber is the owner of Nienaber And Sons Lawn Care in Cincinnati.
- Constantine Anest is the owner of Ethos Roofing & Restoration in Denver.
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who regularly covers wellness, beauty, home and lifestyle. I have written about the best vacuum storage bags, the best mouse traps and more. For this story, I interviewed two roofing and gutter cleaning experts on when to clean your gutters.
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