How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters? A Homeowner's Guide

Gutters do a quiet, unglamorous job — until they're blocked, and suddenly water is running down your walls instead of away from them. Getting ahead of the problem is far cheaper than fixing the damage it causes.

The general rule

For most homes, twice a year is a sensible baseline — once in late spring, after the worst of the winter debris has settled, and again in autumn, once most of the leaves have come down. If your property is surrounded by mature trees, or sits somewhere particularly exposed, you may want to check more often, since needles, seeds and moss can build up faster than leaves alone.

Signs your gutters need attention now

• Water overflowing or spilling over the edge during rain, rather than running through the downpipe
• Visible plant growth or moss sitting in the gutter line
• Gutters sagging, pulling away from the fascia, or looking uneven along their length
• Damp patches, staining or peeling paint on the walls below
• Water pooling near your foundations after rain

Why ladders aren't the answer

A lot of gutter damage — and a fair few accidents — comes from people trying to clear blockages themselves from a ladder, which is unstable on soft ground, awkward to reposition along a long run, and genuinely dangerous at height. Working from a cherry picker platform instead means a stable, secure position at exactly the right height for the whole length of the gutter, with both hands free to do the job properly rather than balance.