Clean your gutters safely

What you'll learn

• How overflow water finds its way under your shingles
• Ladder safety, never solo, always level, always stable
• Why scooping beats blowing leaves (downspout clogs)
• The flush test that confirms your downspouts are clear

Step by step

1. Use a stable extension ladder on level ground with a spotter.
2. Wear safety glasses and work gloves. Bucket hooks to the ladder.
3. Scoop debris by hand (skip the leaf blower, pushes debris into downspouts).
4. Flush with a garden hose. Water should flow freely from every downspout.
5. If water pools anywhere, the gutter has a pitch problem or the downspout is clogged.