Cleaning your gutteran activity you should carry out every few months depending on the area you live in. Besides simply clearing the gutters of leaves, twigs, dust and other types of dirt, you need to give them a proper cleaning to remove any unsightly stains and to ensure mold and algae don’t grow on them.

When it comes to cleaning solutions for the gutter, you have a choice between commercial and homemade options. Homemade options are among the best since they don’t cost much, are quick to make, and have few (if any) effects on the environment.

Some of the best homemade gutter cleaning solutions include white vinegar with water, household cleaning detergent with bleach, baking cream of tartar, gutter butter amongst others. Here are recipes for each of these solutions and how to use them.

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1. White Vinegar & Water DIY Gutter Cleaner

Every DIY enthusiast knows that vinegar is the mother of all household cleaning. Also known as acetic acid in the industries, it works by dissolving the stains within and outside gutters. It also can be used to clean gutter surfaces infested with mold and algae.

Vinegar and water cleaning solution for gutter
White vinegar and water

Recipe: How to Prepare and use Vinegar Solution

Ingredients/Supplies

  • White Vinegar
  • Warm Water
  • Bucket
  • Scrub Brush
  • Gloves
  • Ladder
  • Sprayer

Method

  1. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in the bucket.
  2. Remove any leaves and twigs or other types of dirt from the gutter.
  3. Plug the downspout of the gutter to prevent any liquids from flowing out of it.
  4. Pour the mixture of white vinegar and water into the gutter then let it sit in for an hour.
  5. Scrub the gutter with the brush adding some of the remaining solution for a proper cleaning exercise.
  6. Let it sit for another hour.
  7. Remove the plug from the downspout of the gutter to release the solution.
  8. Rinse the gutter with large amounts of water.

If the gutter has some dirty spots still remaining, repeat the process above until you’re sure you have the gutter at its cleanest.

2. Liquid Detergent & Bleach Combo

A mixture of bleach, detergent, and water is one of the most effective when it comes to removing tough stains from surfaces of various types. While you can use either bleach or liquid detergent as a cleaner on its own, mixing them only makes a better DIY gutter cleaning solution. This combo is a great choice, especially for vinyl gutters.

Bleach and liquid detergent solution for DIY gutter Cleaning
Clorox bleach and Tide detergent

It’s mild and won’t damage any plants or other items on the floor on its own. However, if you mix it with other chemicals, you’ll need to protect plants and other items below the gutter to prevent damage.

Recipe

The Items you will need

  • Detergent
  • Bleach
  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Scrub Brush
  • Protective Gear e.g gloves
  • Ladder
  • Spray Can

Method

You then prepare the solution and clean your gutters as follows:

  1. In two gallons of water, add enough of the liquid detergent such as Clorox then add half a cup of bleach.
  2. Stir to mix properly.
  3. Apply the mixture to the gutters either with a brush or spray can.
  4. Scrub away at the dirt on the gutters.
  5. Plug the downspout of the gutters then pour in the solution and wait for 10 minutes.
  6. Scrub away at the dirt remaining on the gutters.
  7. Open the downspout to release the liquid solution.
  8. Rinse the gutter with large amounts of clean water.

If you notice any more dirt on the gutters, repeat the process until they are clean.

3. Baking Soda Solution

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a common household cleaner that you can use for your gutters. It effectively breaks up stains, deodorizes and decontaminates the channels and downspouts.

Baking soda DIY solution for gutters
Baking soda

However, use baking soda with caution since it’s abrasive. Be careful with gutter surfaces that have a finish that can be worn away. Since some metals, such as aluminum, are more reactive than others, baking soda can cause unsightly discoloration.

Items you need:

  • Baking soda
  • Mixing bucket
  • Water
  • Scrubbing brush or sponge
  • Garden hose

Method:

  1. Add some water into a bucket until it’s about half full.
  2. Add in ¼ cup of baking soda into bucket and stir until it is completely dissolved.
  3. Dip the bristles of your brush or sponge into the baking soda solution and begin scrubbing the dirty areas of your gutter.
  4. Work in small sections, rinsing off each time you finish before moving on to another section until all dirt is cleaned out.
  5. Rinse the solution from inside and outside the gutters with a hose.

Besides the common household DIY cleaners above, you can also incorporate the following store-bought gutter cleaning solutions. Some are specifically formulated for gutters while others are general multi-surface cleaning solutions.

4. Krud Kutter Gutter Cleaner

This gutter cleaner is one of the most sought gutter cleaning solutions on the internet. It is a multi-purpose eco-friendly water-based cleaner for exterior metal, vinyl, plastic, and aluminum gutter surfaces.

Krud Kutter Gutter cleaner
Krud Kutter

Krud Kutter is best for removing black streaks, dirt, stains from mildew, acid rain, algae, oxidation, moss, fungus, mold, tree sap, bird droppings, grease, grime, oil & more. window or door frames, siding and lanai frame

 Simply spray it on the gutter, wait for 2 minutes then wipe the surface clean. You can also use it for window or door frames, siding, lanai frame and RV roofs

5. Ultimate Aluminum Gutter Cleaner Spray

Gutter Edge ultimate Touchless Gutter Cleaner is a concentrated commercial solution for cleaning exterior aluminum gutters.

 

Ultimate Gutter cleaner spray
Ultimate Gutter Cleaner spray

This spray cleans  everything, including the difficult “tiger strip” stains/ black streaks, and other forms of dirt from gutters.

Faster, easier, and less exhaustive. All you need is to spray on and wipe off!

It is made of non-toxic all natural ingredients safe for all indoor/exterior surfaces.

 Safe around kids, pets and plants.

 You can also use it e on interior/exterior metal, vinyl, and plastic surfaces.

6. CHOMP Gutter Cleaner

Chomp gutter cleaner solution
Chomp

Chomp cleaner is a powerful read-to use gutter cleaning solution that quickly removes dirt, debris and unsightly stains caused by runoff and oxidation. It is ideal for cleaning all types of siding, gutters and exterior trim, including aluminum, vinyl and steel.

Easy and ready to use. It does not require mixing. Simply apply the wash and wipe or spray clean with a garden hose.

It is non-toxic and biodegradable

7. Jomax

Jomax is a cleaning solution that usually has a hose and spray setup whereby you simply attach the garden hose and spray away. It can be used to clean roofs and gutters alike. You can scrub if you want then rinse although spraying alone is enough in most cases.

Jomax Cleaner
Jomax

8. Simple Green

Simple Green is a multi-surface cleaner that is used to clean various parts of the home including the door frames, windows, trims, siding, eaves and gutters. It’s good for cleaning surfaces made of plastic, metal, powder coating, vinyl or aluminum.

Simple Green Cleaning Solution
Simple Green

9. TSP-PF

TSP-PF refers to Trisodium Phosphate-Phosphate Free which is a cleaning agent with the cleaning and degreasing capabilities of phosphates but without the environmental effects of phosphates. As such, you can use TSP-PF for most cleaning activities in the home including gutters and other surfaces.

TSP -PF and water gutter cleaning solution recipe
TSP -PF and water

For this solution to be ready, you need the following items:

Recipe

Supplies

  • TSP-PF cleaner
  • Bucket
  • Bleach
  • Hot water
  • Scrub brush

Method:

  1. In a bucket, mix a cup of TSP-PF with a quart of hot water and a quart of bleach.
  2. Pour the mixture into the gutter to dissolve the stains.
  3. You can scrub the dirt away with a scrub brush if they’re the tough type.
  4. Flush the gutter with large amounts of clean water to rinse it.

although Trisodium Phosphate-Phosphate Free is free of some harsh chemicals, it can cause damage when mixed with other solutions such as bleach. As such, always cover the ground under the gutter before using it. When done, flush the area with lots of water to wash away any traces of the cleaning solution.

10. Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is chemically called potassium hydrogen tartrate and is a good cleaning agent if used properly. You need to only mix it with water to create a paste then use it as a cleaning solution for your gutters or other surfaces of your choice.

Tratar Cream Solution
Cream of Tartar

Recipe

The supplies you will need

  • Water
  • Cream of Tartar
  • Bowl
  • Scrub Brush
  • Protective gear
  • Ladder

Method

  1. In a bucket, mix a cup of TSP-PF with a quart of hot water and a quart of bleach.
  2. Pour the mixture into the gutter to dissolve the stains.
  3. You can scrub the dirt away with a scrub brush if they’re the tough type.
  4. Flush the gutter with large amounts of clean water to rinse it.
  5. The process can be repeated as needed until the gutter is clean.

11. Gutter Butter

Gutter Butter is another commercial cleaner with excellent results for roofs and gutters. It’s a cheap option which you can keep around for frequent cleaning of surfaces of various types.

Gutter Butter Cleaner
Gutter Butter

12. Gutter Zap

Gutter Zap is a simple cleaner that can be applied with a sprayer on the gutter and then rinsed off after scrubbing. It’s also friendly to the environment and hence usable around plants.

13. Gutter Grenade F-13

Gutter Grenade is highly concentrated and is often used by professional cleaners. For these reasons, you should use it for tough stains and with caution. Be sure to protect yourself, plants and waterways.

With any one of these solutions and chemicals, you can have your gutters looking pristine in no time. Remember to take caution when using any chemical while around kids, animals and plants.

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