Gutter cleaning products might not sound glamorous, but they are incredibly useful for keeping your home protected and well-maintained. Cleaning gutters is often pushed down the to-do list because it can seem messy, awkward, and even a little daunting (especially if you don't like getting up a ladder).
However, with the right tools, the job becomes faster, safer, and far less stressful. Whether you're renovating a house and looking to reduce costs or simply tackling regular DIY maintenance, investing in quality gutter cleaning products helps prevent blockages, leaks, and costly damage.
To make things easier, here we’ve carefully selected some of the best tools for the job.
The Quick List
Clean gutters safely from the ground with this Karcher accessory kit, including two nozzles, brass connector and 20m hose. Requires a Karcher pressure washer and brief ladder use to set up.
These steel downpipe leaf guards prevent debris blocking water flow. The compressible wire frame fits 87–100mm pipes, expands in place, and features a zinc coating for long-lasting corrosion resistance and durability.
This budget-friendly gutter cleaning kit includes a leaf grabber, narrow scoop, and three extension poles reaching up to 4m. This helps reduce ladder moves and get the job done quicker.
Made of stainless steel and copper this easy-to-attach extension is designed to work with Karcher pressure washers. It includes five colour-coded nozzles with different angles for different washes.
This simple cleaning scraper is designed to fit into square gutters and be dragged along, collecting leaves and debris as it goes. However, while low-cost, it only includes the tool, which must be attached to an extension pole.
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Rather than regular cleaning of your gutters, this Hedgehog gutter brush helps prevent leaves and debris from accumulating. Simply lie in the gutter and leave it to do its work.
Best gutter cleaning extension kit
Not everyone wants to get up a ladder to clean their gutters. Being able to clean from the ground is a much more acceptable and easier option, and this accessory kit is here to help. Included are two nozzles: one pipe-cleaning nozzle and one gutter-cleaning nozzle, a brass connector, and a 20m hose, giving you plenty of flexibility.
One big caveat is that you will need a pressure washer to blast away debris in a gutter. As you might expect, this Karcher kit is compatible with Karcher K2-K7 pressure washers. Ideal if you already own a Karcher pressure washer.
Another caveat is that the process is not completely ladder-free. A hand clamp is attached to the gutter (so you will need to get up a ladder to start the cleaning process) to feed the pipe through to a shuttle tool that then moves along the guttering, blasting away debris. A downpipe cover is included to help prevent debris from entering any downpipes.
Best down pipe filter
This set of downpipe leaf guards is a smart way to prevent leaves and debris from entering a downpipe and obstructing water flow. Designed with a wire frame that quickly compresses to fit inside a downpipe measuring 87-100mm. As soon as the compressed leaf guard is in place, simply let go and gently push it into place. It’s as simple as that.
Made of steel, they have a zinc-alloy coating that protects against corrosion and provides longevity and durability. Measure your downpipe before buying to ensure the guard will fit your pipework.
Best budget kit
If you’ve got a head for heights and are happy to get up a ladder, this gutter cleaning kit could prove to be a budget-friendly bargain. This simple set includes a leaf grabber, a large, narrow scoop designed to reach into guttering, and a selection of extension poles. These can be added to the grabber to extend its reach to around 4m. Then you simply drag the leaves towards the scoop and the job is done.
The extra length means that you shouldn’t have to move your ladder more than once or twice on most lengths of guttering. However, one downside is that the leaf grabber has a curved end. This is ideal for half-round guttering, but on square - or other-shaped guttering, it is not as effective. That said, it still removes most of the debris.
Best U-shaped extension
This gutter cleaning tool is available in two shapes, with the U-shaped extension being the preferred option for cleaning gutters. Designed to work with Karcher pressure washers, this easy-to-attach extension includes five colour-coded nozzles with different angles, making it a good choice for more than just gutter cleaning.
The extension is made of stainless steel and copper with a sturdy plastic adaptor to ensure a good fit and stay rust-free. Each nozzle offers a different angle, ranging from zero to 40 degrees, to help attack cleaning as you see fit. Note the extension is only 37cm, so you will need to get up a ladder to clean your gutters on most homes.
Best manual scraper
Not everyone has half-round guttering, and not everyone needs to blast away leaves and debris from their gutters. This simple cleaning scraper is designed to fit into square gutters and be dragged along, collecting leaves and debris as it goes.
However, while low-cost, it only includes the tool, which must be attached to an extension pole to drag it along the guttering. It is compatible with most standard painters’ extension poles (like this 3.6m Paint Roller Extension Pole from Amazon). However, the manufacturer points out that it is not compatible with Purdy poles.
It is worth noting that if you don’t have square guttering, there is a Half Round Gutter Scraper available on Amazon that comes with an angle adaptor, so you can work from the ground.
Best gutter brush guard
Keeping your gutters clean can be a tedious and time-consuming task, so prevention, rather than regular cleaning, is one way to keep your gutters free of leaves and debris. This is where the Hedgehog gutter brush comes in handy.
Made from tough UV-resistant bristles, the Hedgehog gets its name from the fact that the bristles are spun into a spine and project out in all directions. It sits in the gutter and helps prevent leaves, twigs, and debris from accumulating, while still allowing good water flow. Its flexibility makes it suitable for all types of guttering.
How to choose the right gutter cleaning tools
When choosing which gutter cleaning products to add to your handy household toolkit, consider whether it's a quick fix for now or something a bit more substantial for the long term.
Many products are adaptors, so they need to be attached to a pole or hose to work properly; others are scrapers only or water-based spray gutter tools. So it all depends on how you want to clean your gutters.
Think about whether a pole with a good reach is the right option if it means less time up a ladder. Or is it a handheld option with a scraper and brush to really clean your gutters up close, more up your street?
Many water-based tools spray jets of water, so it might be wise to pop on some safety goggles to avoid debris flicking into your eyes.
How we review
Homebuilding & Renovating is not given any compensation for our reviews, but may be allowed to keep the products for long-term testing, allowing us to test over a longer period and update this review if required.
