Spring cleaning tasks are about so much more than just curb appeal and keeping up with your neighbors. Right now, many of us are thinking about clearing up shrubs and trees, or planting flowers. That’s great, but don’t forget this essential spring season task: You need to have your gutters cleaned out before spring thaw.
Why? Keeping a clean rain gutter prevents damage to your landscaping, and can even head off expensive home repairs. A gutter clogged with debris and “green waste” – such as old leaves, clumps of mud, and other droppings – won’t properly drain excess water away and could even lead to flooding and water damage.
Floodwater isn’t just bad for your home. Flooded yards are worse than messy; they’re ripe breeding grounds for fungus and insects, and attract other unwanted pests that bring disease – to you and your plants. So this spring, plan to get your hands dirty with a little spring cleaning of those gutters. We’ve got some quick tips to make it easy:
- Get out the reliable ladder. If you’re at all unsteady, have some friendly company on hand to hold the ladder and make chit chat.
- Wear long sleeves and rubber gloves. No sense in exposing yourself to grime and who knows what else in those gutters.
- Use a small plastic scoop. Sometimes, those tiny plastic shovels that come with the buckets you take to the beach work well in a pinch. Also have a tarp on hand to catch the debris.
- When you’re done clearing the gunk, use a garden hose to rinse out the gutters. Don’t forget the downspouts. Then wash the tarp.
Bonus tip: If you really don’t want to get down and dirty, or just don’t have the time, consider hiring a neighborhood teen. It’s worth the time and money you invest to get the job done this spring – it will help to protect your landscape from flooding damage!