Safety Tips for Cleaning Your Gutters to Prevent Water Damage in Chicago

The contents of the gutters on your Chicago house may be out of sight, but that doesn’t mean they should be out of mind. That’s because when fallen leaves, twigs, bugs and other debris build up in the gutters, they’re unable to efficiently direct rain water away from your Bucktown, Streeterville, or West Town house. The unfortunate results could be severe

water damage

and structural damage, among others.

In a

previous post

, we at ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, listed several of those serious results in detail. Now we'd like to give you some helpful safety tips to keep in mind if you try to clean your gutters yourself.

• Wear heavy-duty gloves and a long-sleeved jacket or sweatshirt to protect your hands and arms.
• Select the correct size ladder and ensure that it is safe to climb on. Before placing the ladder on the ground, make sure the soil is level and firm. If it’s not, place some plywood under the ladder to stabilize it.
• Wear protective eyewear and a face mask to protect yourself from stinging insects that might be stirred up during the cleaning process.
• Ask a family member or buddy to spot you while you’re cleaning the gutters and going up and down the ladder.
• If you have to walk on the roof, make sure it’s dry. Wearing rubber-soled shoes can help prevent a nasty fall.
• Use a plastic scoop to collect the trash from the gutters and attach a collection bucket for it to the ladder.

If clogged gutters or any other type of situation causes water damage to your home or business, give us a call today at 773-376-1110 today! The restoration professionals at ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons serve 18 Chicago neighborhoods and are standing by year-round to assess the

water damage

to your property and to get it cleaned up as promptly as possible.