If you have plenty of trees in your yard, fall can be a challenging time for seasonal maintenance! It’s very important to keep your gutters clear of leaves, dirt and debris leading up to the winter, as clogging can cause water to back up and damage your home’s structure.
If you have freezing winters, the clogs will cause melted ice and snow to dam up and spill onto your home, leading to foundation and drainage problems.
The easiest solution is to make cleaning your gutters quick and simple, and that means having the right tools. Here are the best gutter cleaners for removing debris, as well as tips for buying the right gutter cleaner for your home.
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Top Pick
Best Value
Premium Choice
Best Gutter Cleaners for 2024
Product | Our Rating | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
6. Gardus GutterSweep Rotary Gutter Cleaning System | |||
7. Workshop Wet and Dry Vacuum Gutter Cleaning Kit | |||
8. CHAVOR Pressure Washer Gutter Cleaner |
Why Use a Gutter Cleaner?
Cleaning a gutter is a messy, sweaty, and laborious job. Not only that, it’s also dangerous. There’s a real risk of falling off a ladder, especially when you are trying to wield a bucket, hose, or other ungainly items.
Gutter cleaners allow you to work safely and cleanly, by letting you work off the ground rather than a ladder, loosening clogs and hard packed debris easily, and decreasing your risk of injury and strain.
Different Types of Gutter Cleaners
Here are the most popular types of tools designed for gutter maintenance:
- Gutter cleaning scoop/cleaning spoon – These are small, scooped shovels that allow you to easily lift debris out of the gutter, working with the pipe’s shape to remove as much debris as possible.
These are basic and unfussy tools that are inexpensive and work well, though they do require you to use a ladder and can mean quite a lot of physical labor. - Telescopic hose wands – If you don’t want to climb a ladder and have a single-story home, this is a great option. It attaches to a standard garden hose and is fully extendible.
This allows you to push it down through gutters and downpipes with ease, flushing out debris, with no need for a ladder. - Telescoping claw – This is a durable claw device that fits onto a telescoping wand. If you have clogged gutters with hard packed debris, the claw will loosen these with ease.
You’ll have to use a ladder to work, and it’s labor-intensive for most people. - Pressure washers – Using a special pressure washer gutter attachment, you can use the power of the washer to blast debris out of the gutter and downpipes.
This should give the gutter a good cleaning, removing dirt, mold, slime, and other debris that build up through the year. They are one of the best gutter cleaners for removing debris that are wet or heavy. - Wet/dry vacuum – These powerful outdoor vacuum systems can be used to suck up debris in your gutter. As kits, they usually have a length of rigid vacuum pipe and a hooked nozzle, allowing you to work from the ground.
They are another one of the best gutter cleaners for removing debris that are wet or heavy. - Leaf blower – Like the pressure washer, you can get a gutter cleaning attachment for a leaf blower. It’s long enough to use without a ladder and works well on damp and dry leaves. However, it can make a bit of a mess.
What to Consider When Buying a Gutter Cleaner
When shopping for the right gutter cleaner for your home, here’s what to think about before you buy.
- Environment – How heavy is the typical seasonal leaf fall around your home? How often do you have to clean out your gutters? Do you have dry winters or are they wet/snowy?
Typically, dry winter areas and houses with fewer trees around their exterior need a more basic and lightweight solution, while heavy, wet leaf fall requires more power. - Gutter type – Aluminum gutters are very strong and can be cleaned with any type of gutter cleaner. Vinyl gutters are easier to damage, so it’s better to use a scoop or leaf blower rather than a pressure washer.
Remember, you can check with the manufacturer for cleaning recommendations. - Reach – How far you can reach is essential when it comes to cleaning gutters quickly as well as thoroughly, so it’s important to find a tool that’s long enough for you and suits the design of your gutters.
A telescoping handle is a very useful feature, as it can be used for people of different heights the most easily. - Comfort – Are you comfortable using a ladder to reach your gutters? Do you suffer from back pain or struggle to lift heavier items?
If your gutter cleaner is too heavy/ungainly or you don’t have a head for heights, it will be better to choose a tool that is lightweight and works effectively from the ground.
If you are comfortable and secure using a ladder or physically fit, then you can more easily use manual devices or heavier equipment. - Equipment requirements – Some of these tools require additional equipment to use them. The power washer attachment will need a power washer, and the telescoping options will need a hose pipe.
Think about what equipment you have at home, if you have a way to hire, buy, or borrow additional equipment, and how the tool will fit in with what you have.
Best Gutter Cleaner Reviews
1. Twinkle Star Pressure Washer Extension Wand Set
This is a good quality attachment if you have a pressure washer or are planning on hiring one to clean your gutters.
It is adjustable up to 102 inches in length, has a working pressure of up to 4000 PSA, and is light to work with as it only weighs just over 2lbs.
The stainless-steel build means you’re getting lasting quality, and the tool comes with 6 tips for soap and different spray functions.
Pros
- Affordable
- Stainless steel
- Universal wand
- Working pressure of up to 4000 PSI
- Lightweight at 2lbs
- 6 nozzle tips
- 102-inch total length
- Clean gutters from the ground
Cons
- Requires pressure washer
- May have some trouble with the connections
2. The Gutter Tool - Gutter Cleaning Spoon and Scoop
Another good gutter scoop is this model, which has a unique hooked shape to help drag debris loose. It has an ergonomic design and fits onto most poles with ACME threads, allowing you to extend your reach to 20 feet safely and easily.
It’s a heavy-duty, commercial grade tool that weighs just 9.6 ounces, and you can easily remove wet as well as dry leaves and debris.
It’s made in the USA, and should be used on a ladder, as it is not angled for ground use.
Pros
- Unique hooked design
- 20-foot reach
- Commercial grade
- Fits onto poles with ACME threads
- Works on wet and dry leaves
Cons
- Requires a ladder
3. Vacmaster Professional - Professional Wet and Dry Vac
A wet/dry vacuum can be used both indoors for daily cleaning and outdoors for cleaning gutters and decking, so it’s a great investment if your home gets heavy leaf fall.
This commercial grade vacuum is very powerful, supplying 1416 watts of sucking and blowing power to shift wet and dry debris.
It’s corded electric with a 20-foot cord, and has a 12 gallon polypropylene tank and integrated cord storage.
It’s designed to be rugged, with a high-performance motor and extension wands to help you reach your gutters easily from the ground. It also comes with a 5-year limited warranty.
Pros
- High-performance motor
- Powerful sucking and blowing capacity
- 20-foot cord with integrated cord storage
- Rugged build
- Indoor and outdoor use
- Clean gutters from the ground
- 5-year limited warranty
Cons
- More expensive
- Requires an electrical outlet
4. Sun Joe SBJ6-GA Gutter Cleaning Blower Attachment
If you already have a Sun Joe SBJ601E, SBJ603E, SBJ605E, or iONBV model, then this attachment can help you out. It will extend to up to 15 inches, giving you a full reach of 90 inches.
The PVC components are well-made, durable and lightweight, weighing in at 2.7lbs. This allows you to clean gutters from the ground easily, reducing risk of injury and back strain.
It’s also very affordable, and you can buy multiple kits to reach a greater height.
Pros
- Affordable
- Good brand
- Reach of up to 15 inches on average adult
- Assembled length of 90 inches
- Lightweight PVC
- Clean gutters from the ground
Cons
- Only compatible with Sun Joe SBJ601E, SBJ603, SBJ605E, and iONBV models
- Works best on dry leaves and debris
- May cause a mess while working
5. The Wedge Gutter Cleaning Scoop
This USA-made gutter scoop has a unique design to allow water to pass through the scoop while trapping debris and using heavy-duty serrated teeth to help cut through clogs, making cleaning your gutters less challenging.
It has a 4.2-cup volume and fits all standard 5-6-inch gutters. You can also use it as a scoop for fertilizer or dog food, and the convenient mounting notch allows for easy storage.
Pros
- Let’s water flow through
- Chiseled teeth help cut through clogs
- Good at removing matted debris
- Fits all standard gutters
- Made in the USA
- Affordable
Cons
- Won’t remove fine debris
- Difficulty getting it under struts
- May not fit under shingle overhang
- Requires a ladder
6. Gardus GutterSweep Rotary Gutter Cleaning System
This rotary gutter cleaning system allows you to sweep your gutters clean of debris without leaving the ground. It uses a rotary drive that attaches to your cordless drill or water hose to scrub and wash out guttering.
The 10-piece system has all the attachments you need to get the job done, from water jet nozzles and gutter brush to gutter scoop.
It’s not only useful for gutters, but also a good tool for cleaning decking, wood fascia, and siding. It weighs 5.2lbs and there’s also a 6-foot extension kit available.
Pros
- No ladder required/clean from the ground
- 10-piece system (complete kit)
- Gutter brush, scoop, spray nozzles, and pole included
- Multi-use cleaning applications
Cons
- Requires hose and/or cordless drill
- More expensive
7. Workshop Wet and Dry Vacuum Gutter Cleaning Kit
If you have a powerful wet/dry vacuum or you are planning to hire one, this is the kit you’ll need to make it a gutter-cleaning machine.
It’s a 2.5-inch diameter fitting kit with a 90-degree elbow for easy working at an angle, 2 extension wands to increase your reach and allow you to clean gutters from the ground, and a blower nozzle to blow rather than suck up debris.
It’s made of high-grade polyethylene and weighs 3.3lbs in total. This kit is ideal for tackling heavy wet and dry debris.
Pros
- 90-degree elbow
- 2 x extension wands
- 2.5-inch connection
- Clean gutters from the ground
- Suck or blow debris
- Works well on wet or dry debris
Cons
- Requires wet/dry vacuum
8. CHAVOR Pressure Washer Gutter Cleaner
This is a good quality gutter cleaning attachment for a pressure washer, turning your machine into an effective gutter cleaning tool for single and double story homes.
It’s compatible with most pressure washers and the turbo nozzles can be rotated to make the cleaning power even more efficient.
It loosens up heavy clogs and wet debris with ease and is compatible with pressure up to 4000 PSI. It also comes with a 3-year warranty for peace of mind.
Pros
- For single and double story homes
- High quality brass and stainless-steel build
- Nozzles rotate to improve cleaning efficiency
- For use up to 4000 PSI
- Compatible with most pressure washers
- 3-year product warranty
Cons
- Requires pressure washer
Sumo Gardener's Gutter Cleaner Top Picks for 2024
Our Top Pick Gutter Cleaner
Our pick as the best gutter cleaner of 2024 is the Twinkle Star Pressure Washer Extension Wand Set! Although you need to hire or use a pressure washer to get the job done, you won’t look back after this purchase.
Pressure washing allows you to clean gutters from the ground, remove mold, slime, and dirt, and even wash out your gutters with an eco-friendly soap.
This kit is affordable, made of high-quality materials, and easy to connect.
Best Value Gutter Cleaner
If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful solution that gets the job done, The Gutter Tool - Gutter Cleaning Spoon and Scoop is for you!
Ideal for lighter cleaning jobs where you don’t mind some physical labor, this scoop is great for loosening clogged debris and pulling them out of the gutter.
It delivers a very useful 20-foot reach too, although you will need a ladder to use this tool effectively.
Premium Choice Gutter Cleaner
If you have heavy, wet leaf fall and you want to make your fall chores a lot easier, then it’s worth investing in the Vacmaster Professional - Professional Wet/Dry Vac.
This premium pick is a little bit expensive, but you get a lot of value for your money. It can be used indoors and outdoors, doesn’t require a dust bag, and is easy to clean and use.
It’s powerful, can handle wet and heavy leaves easily, and is ruggedly built.
Make Fall a Time for Fun with the Best Gutter Cleaners of 2024!
Gutter cleaning just isn’t any fun – but it can be quick and simple when you have the right tools. It’s also important, as it helps keep your gutters operational and in good condition, and helps to prevent flooding, leaks, and structural damage to your yard and home.
Remember to consider the type of gutters you have, the type of debris your tool needs to handle, and any necessary equipment you may need to operate your gutter cleaner.
If you have a sore back or don’t enjoy heights, we recommend that you find a lightweight tool you can use with both feet on the ground, helping to make this important seasonal task a lot safer.
We hope this article helped you find the best gutter cleaning equipment for your home!