Clear moss and leaves from your gutters and check they drain freely, working safely from a ladder.
GT-01Pick a calm, dry dayAvoid windy or icy days, since you'll be working from a ladder and handling wet debris. Early autumn and late winter are the best times, before and after leaf fall. Check nobody needs to use doors or paths under your working area.
GT-02Gather your toolsYou'll need gloves, a gutter scoop or old trowel, a bucket with a hook (or a rubble sack) to catch debris, and a hose with a spray attachment. Safety glasses are worth wearing, since old gutter muck can be surprisingly grim and sometimes hides wasp nests or bird mess.
GT-03Set up your ladder safelyStand the ladder on firm, level ground with someone footing it if you can, and never overreach — move it along rather than stretching sideways. Hook your bucket onto a rung so both hands stay free. Work along the gutter in short sections rather than trying to reach too far from one position.
GT-04Scoop out the debrisStarting near a downpipe, scoop leaves, moss and silt into your bucket by hand. Work in one direction along the run so you're not undoing your own progress. Drop full loads straight into your bucket rather than flicking debris onto the ground below, where it can block drains.
GT-05Clear the downpipe outletCheck the gutter outlet where it drops into the downpipe — this is where blockages usually collect worst. Clear any debris sitting in the funnel by hand, and check the pipe isn't blocked further down by looking or listening when you flush it in the next step.
GT-06Flush the gutter with a hoseOnce the loose debris is out, run water along the gutter from the far end and watch it flow towards the downpipe. It should run freely with no pooling. If water backs up or the downpipe gurgles and overflows, the blockage is further down the pipe and may need a plumber's rod or drain rods.
GT-07Check joints, brackets and fallsWhile you're up there, look for sagging sections, loose brackets, or joints that leak when you flush water through. A gutter should have a slight fall towards the downpipe — if water sits in one spot, a bracket may need adjusting. Note anything that needs fixing so you can tackle it separately.
GT-08Clear up and dispose of the wasteEmpty your bucket into a garden waste bin or compost heap if the debris is just leaves and moss. Rinse your gutter scoop and coil the hose away. Wash your gloves or leave them to dry before storing.
GT-09Do a final check after rainNext time it rains heavily, watch from the ground for overflowing gutters or drips down the wall. This confirms the blockage is properly cleared and shows up any spots you might have missed. Sort any leaks or loose brackets you spotted earlier before they get worse.
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