The 4 Most Helpful Gutter-Cleaning Videos
Most people don’t normally think about the Internet as an integral tool for do-it-yourselfers. But with the prevalence of instructional videos available in cyberspace, the Web can simplify almost any DIY chore. Gutter cleaning is no exception. Here are the five best videos out there that can help homeowners clean gutters efficiently and safely.
This video was created by the Lowe’s home improvement store chain, which prides itself on helping Americans perform do-it-yourself projects at home. The host does a nice job of not only outlining the process of cleaning gutters, but also showing how to make repairs to gutter cracks and hangers. Viewers benefit from a complete list of supplies needed for the job, as well as ladder safety tips, suggestions on how to check the slope of gutters, and instructions on how to find more resources about the topic offered by Lowe’s.
AskTheBuilder.com is the producer of this two-minute how-to video on gutter cleaning. The lively host outlines different methods of cleaning gutters, from standing on a ladder or roof and scooping out debris with gloved hands to using a leaf blower to blow the leaves out of the gutters. Viewers will see just how well a leaf blower works on dry leaves — although the host is a bit cavalier about moving around up on a roof. Nevertheless, he provides quite a few tips on the finer points of cleaning out gutters.
The creator of this video is Roofing-Cost.com, which may lead some people to ask why a roofing website feels it has expertise in gutter cleaning. But it becomes readily apparent that the video producers know quite a bit about ladder safety, which is paramount when trying to clean gutters. In fact, the first half of the six minute video focuses on proper placement and anchoring of the ladder in order to minimize the odds of accidents. After showing the proper way to clean gutters by hand, the host then demonstrates how to use a garden hose with an attachment to clean out gutters from the ground.
This last entry is part of the Howcast web series, which features instructional videos on everything from financial planning and health to personal relationships and video games. It’s only 90 seconds long, and it takes a different approach to gutter cleaning: building a special tool from scratch to make the job easier. Basically, it’s a step-by-step guide on how to make a gutter cleaning garden hose attachment out of PVC pipe. It lists all necessary supplies, shows the completion of each step, and demonstrates how the tool works on cleaning gutters.