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Why Fall is the Best Time to Clean Your Gutters

By Wet & Forget
gutter cleanup

If you’re anything like us, you’ve got your mind in the gutter this fall. That’s because autumn is the ideal time to clean your home’s gutters.

Clogged gutters are no one's friend.

The idea of climbing up a ladder to stick your hand into those dark crevices might not be anyone’s idea of fun, but when you use Wet & Forget, you can get the job done quickly while maximizing your time spent on the ground.

A gutter free of organic growth is a healthy one. And with that stability, you can better protect your home from water damage, leaks, and even pests.

So, don’t skip over your gutter maintenance this fall. Instead, partner with Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End to rid gross growth from your gutters.

Why Fall Is the Best Time to Clean Your Roof and Gutters

Most varieties of organic growth, including mold, mildew, moss, and algae, thrive in summer’s humid air. But whether your roof sits in bright sunlight or is shaded by a nearby tree, you’re left in a darned-if-you-do/darned-if-you-don’t situation.

This fall, make sure to clean your roof and gutters.

See, while sunshine may be the disinfectant for growth like mold and mildew, algae and moss are photosynthetic organisms, meaning they need sunlight for their nutrients. That means regardless of where your roof is placed, it’s likely to experience some amount of organic growth going into fall.

Of course, autumn is when trees drop their leaves. Clearing your gutters of organic debris, like leaves and twigs, is likely already part of your fall maintenance routine to prepare for winter. Combining that manual work with the easy application of Wet & Forget will also help keep your gutters clear of organic growth.

Additionally, fall typically offers weather conditions ideal for maximizing Wet & Forget’s effectiveness. You’ll find plenty of mild, cloudy days to treat your gutters, as well as many rainy, windy days that will help Wet & Forget Outdoor gently lift stains and organic growth away.

Between the accumulation of debris and growth from spring and summer, winter preparation, and fall’s ideal conditions for Wet & Forget application, it’s no wonder this is the season for cleaning your gutters!

Why You Need to Clean Your Gutters

To understand the importance of cleaning your gutters this fall, let’s talk a bit about the risks of neglecting this important part of your home.

Wet & Forget works with wind and rain to clean your roof and gutters.

Gutters serve an essential purpose: collecting rainwater and moving it away from your home’s foundation. When water sits on your roof, it can lead to rot, shingle deterioration, and mold. When water collects near your home’s foundation, it can flood your basement or crawl space.

A clogged gutter can be as good as no gutter at all because the water will pool inside the gutter or spill over the edge. If water has no place to go, it will spur organic growth, which can quickly work its way up your roof and beneath shingles.

Soon, you may find yourself dealing with unsightly (and potentially damaging) black streaks on your roof. Depending on the type of organic growth, those streaks may soon spread to nearby homes.

Of course, gutters that don’t clear soon become heavy, stressing its point of connection to your roof. Your gutter may bow, bend, or break away completely.

And while you may think that only large chunks of debris, like leaves or twigs, can lead to clogs, organic growths like mold, mildew, algae, and moss also play a critical role here. As organic growth begins to build up, it will combine with debris to become gutter sludge or slime. This amorphous blob isn’t just gross, it will quickly transform into a deep-set clog.

In any of the above cases, you’re looking at a potentially hefty repair bill for your basement, roof, and gutters.

Instead of forking over all that cash or spending all that time repairing something you could’ve prevented, we recommend spending a single morning doing some autumnal gutter maintenance.

The Benefits of Using Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End

If reading about gutter sludge gives you the willies, Wet & Forget is here to help. Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End makes it easy to treat your gutters in a matter of minutes, all without your feet leaving the ground.

We designed Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End for effortless application. Simply screw the end of your hose to the back of the Xtreme Reach™ Nozzle and start applying.

The nozzle comes with two settings: jet and fan. The jet tip allows the spray to reach distances of up to 30 feet — perfect for treating roofs and gutters. The fan tip offers a broader spray to treat large surfaces quickly and easily. (One bottle of Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End can cover up to 2,000 square feet. Refill bottles, which come without the hose end attachment, provide additional coverage of up to 2,000 square feet.)

That means you can treat your gutters and roof without having to climb up a ladder. While you will still need a ladder to manually remove large debris, like leaves and twigs, the longer you can stay on the ground the safer you’ll be.

After application, your job is over. No need to scrub, rinse, or pressure wash. The spray gets to work instantly then works with wind and rain to gently lift stains over time (and keep them away.)

A single application is often all you need to keep organic growth at bay for up to a year or more. It’s effective in removing mold, mildew, moss, algae, and even pesky lichens.

Of course, gutters and roofs can be made from a variety of materials. Fortunately, because they are non-acidic, phosphate-free, and bleach-free Wet & Forget Outdoor products are safe on virtually any outdoor surface:

  • Aluminum
  • Asphalt
  • Brick
  • Clay
  • Concrete
  • Metal
  • PVC and plastic
  • Painted and stained surfaces
  • Stucco and stone
  • Wood
  • Vinyl

So, if you want to clean your gutters quickly and effectively, regardless of what material they are made from, while keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground, consider Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End.

How to Use Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach to Clean Your Gutters and Roof

As we’ve mentioned, Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End is easy to use.

Keep your feet on the ground when you clean your gutters.

Before getting started, wait for a day that’s mild, cloudy, and within wind or rain in the forecast for at least four to five hours after application. Ideally, temperatures should be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit before treating your gutters and roof, but avoid applying during the hottest parts of the day. Make sure the surfaces you’re treating are dry before starting.

When the conditions are right, screw your garden hose into the back of the Xtreme Reach™ Nozzle. Then rotate the nozzle’s dial counterclockwise, past the “Water” setting, until you reach the “On” position. You should see white foam and bubbles beginning to dispense on the surface.

Then begin applying the product to your roof and gutter. When cleaning your gutters, aim just above where they meet the roof. The spray should flow into the gutters and down through the downspout.

(If you accidentally spray any plants, turn the black dial back to the “Water” position and rinse the greenery.)

There’s no need to rinse, scrub, or power wash after. Just spray and walk away!

The spray gets to work instantly, then combines with wind and rain to lift organic growth stains over time. Green stains typically disappear within a few days or weeks. Black stains may take a few months before fully dissipating. Long-established or stubborn stains may need a second application a month or two after your initial treatment.

Depending on your local weather and climate, a single application can be enough to keep your gutters free of organic growth for up to a year or more.

This Fall, Spend a Few Minutes Treating Your Gutters

A clean roof and gutters are a sight to behold!

When autumn is in the air, keep your feet on the ground. With Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End, you can treat your gutters in minutes without needing to climb up any ladders.

So, before the seasons change again, pick up a bottle today!