A single story home with easy access is a reasonable DIY job if you are comfortable on a ladder. Two and three story homes, steep roofs and packed downspouts are better left to an insured pro. Whoever does it should clear the gutters by hand, flush every downspout, and check the roof edge.
By the Roofing & Gutter Ethics team. Updated November 2026.
When DIY makes sense
If the gutters are at first floor height, the ground is level, and you own a sturdy ladder with a stabilizer, cleaning your own gutters is reasonable. Wear gloves, use a scoop, bag the debris, and run a hose through each downspout.
The real risk is the ladder
Ladder falls send hundreds of thousands of people to the emergency room every year in the United States. Many happen at home, at modest heights, during routine jobs like this one. Two story gutters, soft ground, slopes and wet leaves on a roof edge all raise the risk.
Rather not climb the ladder? We clear every trough by hand, flush every downspout and send photos of the whole roofline.
Book a gutter cleaningMistakes we see after DIY cleanings
- Pressure washing. It feels thorough, but it drives the gunk back into the wood behind the gutter, where it sits in the dark and rots the fascia.
- Skipping the downspouts. A clean trough with a packed elbow still overflows.
- Leaning ladders on the gutter. That bends the gutter and breaks hangers.
- Walking the roof. Scuffed shingles lose granules.
If you hire someone, check insurance
A gutter cleaner should carry general liability and workers compensation coverage, and should show you the certificate. If an uninsured worker gets hurt on your property, it can land on your homeowners policy. Ask before anyone sets up a ladder.
What a professional visit adds
Hand clearing every trough, flushing every downspout until it runs clear, checking hangers and pitch, and a look at the roof edge with photos. That last part matters. A cleaning visit is the most regular look your roof gets, and it is where small problems get caught early.