How to Clean a Gutter – Vacuum or by Hand? A guide from Ben\’s Gutters

How to clean a gutter? Well, if you’ve ever had to deal with blocked gutters, you know how important regular cleaning is to prevent leaks, damp, and expensive home repairs. But when it comes to actually clearing them out—what’s the best method?

Should you go old-school and hand clean them with a ladder and gloves? Or is modern vacuum technology the smarter choice?

In this post, we’ll break down both approaches and explain why many professionals—including us here at Ben’s Gutters—often use the SkyVac vacuum system for a safer, faster, and convenient clean.

Hand Cleaning Gutters: The Traditional Approach

Hand cleaning gutters typically involves climbing a ladder and scooping out leaves, moss, twigs, and debris by hand using a gutter scoop or trowel.

✅ Pros:

• Can be effective for small, easily accessible properties
• Allows for close-up inspection of gutter condition
• Useful for removing heavy or compacted debris

Hand cleaning can still be effective for small, single-storey homes, but it’s not always practical or safe—especially for terraced houses, taller properties, or buildings with limited access.

❌ Cons:

• Safety risk – Working at height is one of the most common causes of injury for homeowners
• Time-consuming, especially for large or hard-to-reach gutters
• Often requires multiple ladder moves around the property
• Messy – debris can fall onto your walls, paths, or plants
• Can miss clogs in downpipes or deeper parts of the gutter system

Vacuum Cleaning Gutters: The Modern Method

More and more gutter cleaning professionals are now turning to gutter vacuum systems like SkyVac, which are specially designed to clean gutters from the ground using powerful suction and long carbon fibre poles.

✅ Pros:

• No ladders needed – Work is done safely from the ground
• Perfect for 3-storey or hard-to-reach gutters
• Faster and more efficient than manual cleaning
• Minimal mess – debris is vacuumed directly into a container
• Can be used in bad weather when ladders might be unsafe
• Easily clears blockages in downpipes and tight corners

Optional camera inspection ensures nothing is missed

❌ Cons:

• May not remove very large, solid obstructions like compacted weeds (though these are rare)
• Requires professional equipment – not typically a DIY option

Why Ben’s Gutters Uses the SkyVac System

At Ben’s Gutters, safety and quality come first. If your home is accessible, we’ll use ladders and our tools to get nice and close to the problem areas. One of the biggest benefits of this is that minor repairs (such as fixing a leak or clipping joints back into place) is all possible from a ladder.

But when your property is higher than two storeys our technicians use the SkyVac gutter vacuum system—one of the most advanced tools in the industry.

With SkyVac, our team can:

• Clean gutters up to 4 storeys high
• Avoid the risk of using ladders
• Provide before-and-after photos using inspection cameras
• Work faster, cleaner, and with less disruption to your home

So, Is It Better to Vacuum or Hand Clean Gutters?

In many cases, vacuum cleaning is the better choice!

It’s safer, faster, cleaner, and more efficient—especially for properties with difficult access or multi-storey buildings.

That said, hand cleaning still has its place, particularly for smaller homes or when very heavy, stuck debris needs manual removal. And like we said, a Skyvac won’t be able to clip your gutter back in or seal a leaky joint.

If you’re concerned about blocked downpipes or want real eyes on your gutters, get someone with a ladder safety qualification (like one of Ben’s Gutters technicians) to do the work for you.

And for a comprehensive clean with minimal disruption, a vacuum system like SkyVac wins hands down.

Let the Pros Handle It

Whether your gutters are blocked with leaves, overflowing after a storm, or just overdue for maintenance, you don’t need to risk life and limb on a ladder.

Ben’s Gutters offers a professional gutter cleaning service, trusted by over 350,000 homeowners across the UK. Our trained team ensures your gutters are spotless, and your home is protected—all without any mess or stress.

✅ Fast – most homes cleaned in under an hour

✅ Clean – vacuumed debris, no mess left behind

✅ Reliable – camera inspections included on request

✅ Fully insured and great customer reviews