Brecksville's Handy Homeowner: Cleaning Gutters is a Necessary Chore

Cleaning gutters is a never-ending job. In the spring, they get filled with leaf buds, blossoms, seeds and those annoying twirling “helicopters” from maple and ash trees. In the autumn, they get clogged with leaves and in the winter they fill with ice, and I find myself wondering if they will fall right off the house.

I know from experience that if you don’t clean your gutters, interesting things will grow in them. I once had a four-foot tall sapling growing out of my gutter before my dad came over and helped me clean them out. Birds and other critters will also start to build nests in your gutters, if they get the chance. 

Why do we need gutters, anyhow? According to the website for Feazel Construction in Westerville, Ohio,  gutters collect rain water and disperse it away from your home. If they're not draining properly, they can cause damage to your roof, foundation, driveway, walkways and landscaping. 

Cleaning gutters is not fun, but it must be done regularly. 

You can hire a company to clean your gutters, and the Better Business Bureau has information on dozens of companies in our area. Or you can clean them yourself with some simple tools like a ladder, a pair of heavy-duty work gloves, a small trowel, a hose and a bucket -- all of which are available at any hardware store, like in Brecksville. Just make sure to follow safety precautions when using a ladder. 

If you're cleaning them yourself, the website Home Tips.com lists some steps for cleaning your gutters, such as first removing debris in the gutter.

Although cleaning gutters is a thankless job, it's a necessary one. And with all the rain we've had lately, I'm glad I don't have any trees growing in my gutters this season.