How to remove leaves out of gutters?

Judy Johnson
by Judy Johnson

I live in Mn and the cold weather came too soon and now i have frozen leaves clogging up my rain gutters and down spouts.. How can i get them out without a struggle and without damaging the gutter??

  4 answers
  • Lynn Goins Lynn Goins on Nov 08, 2018

    You should probably be able to use a scraper for the gutter itself, but the down spouts, I would unscrew and take them in the house. Set them in a tall empty trash can and let them thaw out. Once thawed, rinse the insides in the shower (make sure you cover the drain with something) and let thoroughly dry and then replace them on the gutters. Next year, before it freezes, blow them out with your leaf blower so you don't have the headache this is going to be.  Good Luck!!

  • Kami Kami on Nov 08, 2018

    Hello! I live in MN too & have the exact issue. Soooo I hope it gets warm enough to get the leaves done, but if not I am going to use my pressure washer. Carefully.

  • Joann Gonnella Cope Joann Gonnella Cope on Nov 08, 2018

    Hi Judy, I'm in Minnesota too and know your dilemma, at this point watch for a sunny day and dump warm water into the gutter it should be enough that it loosens the leaves. I end up scooping them out with a small planting shovel, like you use for planting in containers? The gutters are tougher than you think, if they are pvc just don't strike them while frozen, mine are aluminum if the down spouts are plugged scrape away as much as possible at the drain hole and dump water down until they flow through, a hose may still work if its above freezing...


  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Nov 08, 2018

    If they aren't very high you can purchase a gutter cleaning tool. It is curved on the end and you can clean them from the ground.