# Clean Gutters Yourself or Hire Someone? When Each Fits > Decide whether to clean your gutters yourself or hire help. Check ladder footing, overhead wires, safe reach and the height of the job before you start. Page: https://fannonpropertyservices.com/guides/clean-gutters-yourself-or-hire/ Last changed: 2026-10-30 --- # Clean the gutters yourself, or hire it out? The work is simple. The ladder is what deserves the thought. - Insured - Locally owned - Free estimates ![A gutter cleared of leaves, seen from the ladder](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/assets/own/portfolio/img_0439.webp) *After: a gutter we cleared.* ## By hand, or hired. | What you get | Clean them yourself | Hire it out | | --- | --- | --- | | Fits when | One story, level ground, a sound ladder | Height, a slope, or no wish to climb | | The ladder | Yours, moved every few feet | Not yours to climb | | After a storm | Wait for dry rungs and firm ground | Send the address when a gutter spills | | What it costs | A ladder, gloves, a scoop and your time | No set price: a free quote for your house | ### When is it worth paying to have gutters cleaned? Consider hiring help when the gutters are above one story, the ground is soft or sloped, or the work is beyond your safe reach. A sound ladder, stable footing and three points of contact matter at any height. We clean gutters around Annapolis, quoted for your house. ## Before you climb 3 points Keep two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand, on the ladder while climbing. Inspect the ladder before use and follow its labels. Remove a damaged ladder from use. Do not stand on the top three rungs of a straight or extension ladder. Keep metal ladders away from power lines and exposed electrical equipment. *Drawing of two ladders against a gutter: on the first the top three rungs are crossed out, on the second the ladder stands on a box and the box is crossed out* - **Level ground** Use a stable surface, never a box or other unstable base. - **Look up** Check for overhead power lines before handling a ladder. Source: OSHA Portable Ladder Safety. Checked October 30, 2026. ## If you would rather stay down. - ![Wet leaves filling a gutter from end to end, along a metal roof](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/assets/own/portfolio/img_0368-phone.webp) [Gutter cleaning](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/gutters/) Quoted for your house, and the quote is free. - ![Drawing of a roof edge with a gutter packed with leaves, rain water spilling over its front and landing against the house wall](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/assets/drawn/clog-overflow.svg) [What clogged gutters cause](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/guides/what-happens-if-gutters-are-clogged/) What a gutter this full does to a house. - [How often to clean gutters](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/guides/how-often-to-clean-gutters/) The two seasons, and the signs in between. ## Questions about doing it yourself ### Is there a way to clean gutters without climbing a ladder? Sometimes. A tool that reaches the gutter while you stay on the ground can avoid a climb. Check that it suits your gutter and follow the instructions. If the job needs a ladder and you cannot reach safely, hire help. ### How high is too high to clean my own gutters? Height is only part of the decision. Check the ground, ladder condition, overhead wires and whether you can reach without leaning. A second story or a job beyond your safe reach is a reason to hire help. We quote gutter cleaning around Annapolis and on Kent Island. ### Is a metal ladder safe for cleaning gutters? Only away from wires. OSHA's ladder card says to look for overhead power lines before handling any ladder and to avoid a metal one near power lines or exposed electrical equipment. ### Do I need someone to hold the ladder? A helper is good, but no substitute for a proper footing. OSHA says to use a ladder only on a stable, level surface unless it has been secured at the top or the bottom, to keep every lock on an extension ladder engaged, and never to shift a ladder while someone is on it. ### Should I clean gutters while it is still raining? No. OSHA's card says the rungs, steps and feet of a ladder must be free of anything slippery. Let the ladder and the ground dry first, or send us the address and we will quote the cleaning. ### What does a gutter cleaner do that I could not? Nothing secret. With a gutter cleaning from us, the leaves and debris come out and rain can reach the downspout again. What you are paying for is someone else's time at the top of the ladder, quoted for your house. Sources and further reading - [OSHA ladder safety](https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/PORTABLE_LADDER_QC.pdf) ## Get a free estimate. Tell us how many stories the house has and whether a gutter has been spilling. We quote the cleaning. [Call (443) 223-8643](tel:+14432238643) [How estimates work](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/estimates/) [Towns we cover](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/service-area/) ![Illustration of a Fannon Property Services Ford F-150 pickup in navy and blue](https://fannonpropertyservices.com/assets/gen/truck-cutout.webp)