How To: Safety Tips When Cleaning Gutters

Well, Autumn is upon us here in Michigan and the leaves are falling fast. If you have trees near your home you know the pain of clogged gutters. Taking cleaning matters into your own hands can be a pretty dangerous task!

According the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, every year 500,000 people are treated for ladder-related injuries and approximately 300 of these incidents prove to be fatal. (http://www.ezsmarttools.com/blog/ladder-falls-the-scary-statistics)

While those statistics can be quite off-putting, scaring you away from getting those gutters clean is not our goal. Our goal is to give you some helpful tips for preventative measures that you can take to minimize accidents!

1. Ladders

Always let someone know you will be using a ladder, and if possible ask them to stand out there with you.

A metal ladder is recommended over a wooden ladder as they are usually more sturdy.

Look over the ladder you will be using to make sure everything is tight and securely in place.

2. Useful tools

A garden hose with a spray nozzle on the end can be deemed very helpful. The high pressure they put out can get out the access leaves and while you're not using it, the handle makes for a great hook to put on the gutter's edge.

Gutter scoops can come in handy as well, and can be purchased at nearly any hardware store. They have a special shape to them that allows the scoop to fit the shape of the gutter. You may want to avoid metal ones as they can scratch up the bottom of your gutters and lead to rust quicker.

Gloves help protect hands from animal droppings with harmful bacteria, as well as prevent cuts and scrapes from the gutters.

3. Things to keep in mind

If your roof is also covered in debris, you will want to clean that off first or else cleaning the gutters is most likely going to be a waste of time.

Make sure the downspouts are cleared first as well so more clogs don't happen while you're up on the ladder.

Be aware of the power lines that may be around you and your ladder.

And remember, there's always the option of investing in gutter guards!

While we can offer you safety tips to minimize accidents, Ritt's Done Right cannot guarantee our tips will stop accidents from happening. Please be careful out there and if you need help, call a local gutter cleaner!

Thanks for reading and we will see you next time!