So you have decided to clean your gutters this weekend. Great! You may be wondering what gutter cleaning tools you will need to get the job done. Some of the items are things that you already have around the house. Some are things you should buy or make and one is a large item that you might have to borrow or buy.
First, you will need some personal protective equipment. You want to avoid touching the debris and possible mold or mildew in your gutter clogs so gloves are a must. I recommend disposable gloves that you can throw away at the end of the project rather than gardening gloves that you will want to use again. If there is mold in your gutters then you want to avoid breathing in the mold spores so a face mask is recommended. Even if there is no mold, it is better to be safe than sorry. You will also need some garbage bags to collect the debris.
To get the debris out of your gutters your best bet is a gutter scoop. The scoop can be a four or five dollar tool meant specifically for this purpose that you buy at a home improvement warehouse, or something that you improvise or make. You want a scoop with high sides and a long handle to maximize the amount of debris you will be able to remove with each scooping action.
You will want access to a garden hose so that you can rinse the gutter when the debris is removed and test the downspouts to make sure they are not clogged. If you are lucky enough to have a gutter cleaning wand, you can attach it to the garden hose and clean out the debris with a high pressure water stream.
Finally, you will need a ladder. Some people have ladders in there garages or sheds, but other homeowners will have to borrow one or rent one. If you can, get an extension ladder rather than an A frame ladder because they work better for working at the roof line. Make sure to practice proper ladder safety while working on your gutters.