Homemade Gutter Cleaning Tools

Get to Know Your Gutters

• Break out the ladder and take a look at the damage. Put on your gardening gloves and see what type of debris you're dealing with. This is also a good time to check for any damage or wear like cracks and leaks in the downspouts.

Make a Scoop

• Instead of using your hands to remove the debris, fashion a homemade gutter scoop from an empty, plastic milk jug or soda bottle. Cutting the corners in the shape of a V will provide a shape workable for gathering the most debris. You can also use kitchen utensils, like spatulas and old serving spoons, for narrow or hard-to-reach areas.

Collect Discarded Debris

• Instead of throwing all the gutter debris onto your yard or aiming for a small buket, use a camping tarp or old bed sheet as a collection area. Set up the tarp or sheet in a large square or rectangle, and aim your scoopfuls of debris at the shape. When you're finished, you can simply fold up the tarp or sheet and dump the debris in a yard waste bin, compost pile or leaf bag.

Hose Around

• When you're finished scooping out the debris, you can flush out all the remnants from the gutters and downspout with your garden hose.