Short answer
To clean gutters, scoop out leaves and debris into a bucket, flush the gutter with a hose to check water flows towards the downpipe, then make sure the downpipe drains freely. You can do this from a ladder if you follow ladder safety carefully, or from the ground with a pole-mounted tool or a gutter vacuum. Never climb onto the roof.
Safety first
Working at height is the biggest risk in gutter cleaning, so think about it before anything else. If your gutters are on a single storey or a low extension, cleaning them from a ladder can be manageable. Two- and three-storey gutters, gutters above conservatories or over steps, and anywhere the ground is uneven are better tackled from the ground or left to a professional.
If you use a ladder, check it is in good condition and suitable for the height. Set it on firm, level ground at the angle the manufacturer recommends, and have someone foot it. Do not rest the ladder against the gutter itself, which can crack or pull away; a stand-off accessory holds it clear. Keep three points of contact, never overreach, and move the ladder rather than stretching sideways. Do not work in wind, rain or ice, and never step onto the roof or a conservatory.
Wear gloves, as gutters can hide sharp fixings and broken glass, and eye protection when flushing or brushing.
Cleaning gutters by hand from a ladder
- Lay a sheet on the ground below to catch debris and protect paving and plants.
- Start near a downpipe and use a gutter scoop or small trowel to lift leaves, moss and silt into a bucket hooked securely to the ladder.
- Work along a section within easy reach, then come down and move the ladder.
- Check any leaf guard or cage over the downpipe outlet and clear it.
- Once the gutter is clear, pour or gently hose water in at the far end and watch it flow towards the downpipe.
- Look for water pooling in one place, dripping from joints or overflowing, and note it for repair.
- Check the downpipe drains freely at the bottom and clear the gully or drain it runs into.
How to clean gutters from the ground
Cleaning from the ground avoids most of the risk of ladders. Extendable gutter cleaning poles with a scoop or claw at the end can lift out loose leaves from lower gutters, although it can be hard to see what you are doing. Hose attachments that curve into the gutter can flush out light debris, but they move dirt rather than remove it, so use them only once the bulk has been cleared, or it ends up in the downpipe.
Gutter vacuum systems are the professional version of cleaning from the ground. A powerful vacuum is connected to lightweight poles that reach up to the gutter, and the debris is sucked out and collected at ground level. Many systems include a camera on the pole so the person working can see inside the gutter, check it is clear and show the homeowner the result.
Check the downpipes
A clear gutter is no use if the downpipe is blocked. After clearing, run water into the gutter and watch the bottom of the downpipe. Water backing up in the gutter, splashing at the top of the pipe or a weak trickle at the bottom all suggest a blockage. Our guide to blocked gutters and downpipes explains how to find and clear one.
Before you start next time
How often you need to do this depends largely on the trees around your home, which we cover in our guide on how often gutters should be cleaned. If you are thinking about fitting guards to cut down the work, our guide to gutter guards looks at the pros and cons.
When to call a professional
Call a professional if your gutters are above the first floor, over a conservatory or extension you would have to reach across, if the ground below is uneven, or if you are simply not comfortable on a ladder. It is also worth getting help if gutters overflow even after clearing, which can point to a fault rather than debris.
We clear gutters using a high-reach gutter vacuum with a camera, which reaches gutters on most two and three storey homes from the ground, so there are no ladders on your roof. The camera lets us check the gutter is fully clear before we move on, we check downpipes are flowing freely and clear blockages where we can reach them, and debris is removed from site.
Rather have it done for you?
Gutters cleared with a high-reach vacuum and camera, no ladders on your roof. Family-run by Jason and Lucas Prior, covering south Essex.
Frequently asked questions
Can you clean gutters from the ground?
Yes. Extendable poles with scoops can clear loose debris from lower gutters, and gutter vacuum systems with a camera can clear gutters on most two and three storey homes from the ground.
Should I flush gutters with a hose?
Only once the bulk of the debris has been removed. Flushing first tends to wash leaves and silt into the downpipe, where they can cause a blockage.
Is it safe to clean gutters from a ladder?
It can be on a low building if the ladder is sound, set on firm level ground, footed by someone and not leaned on the gutter. Higher gutters are safer cleaned from the ground or by a professional.
Related guides
- How often should gutters be cleaned?: working out the right gutter-cleaning interval for your home, rather than following a rigid rule.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes: spotting a blocked gutter or downpipe, clearing it safely and telling a blockage apart from a fault.
- Do gutter guards work?: a balanced look at mesh, brush and foam gutter guards, what they do well and where they fall short.
- What affects the cost of gutter cleaning: the factors that change a gutter cleaning quote, what a good quote should include and how to compare quotes like for like.