How Do You Remove Black Stains From Gutters?

By High Five Gutters on February 16, 2021

The black stains on your gutters are from dirty roof runoff. The gunk is a mix of dirt, decomposing leaves, and asphalt from your shingles. Removing it is fairly straight forward, given you have the proper tools and equipment.

If you’re planning on cleaning your gutters yourself, here are the tools and equipment you will need to complete the job:

• 2000-3000 PSI pressure washer
• Stiff bristle scrub brush
• 20 foot ladder
• Spray on exterior metal cleaner

Gutter Cleaning Methods

The first thing to try is a pressure washer. This is generally the easiest option since you can clean off large sections fairly quickly. This process uses fresh water only, no chemicals, so depending on the level of staining, your results may fully remove all stains.

Another option is to use white vinegar. It works well for cleaning surfaces and will not cause corrosion on aluminum gutters. A good ratio is 3:1, three parts water and one part vinegar. Use a sponge or cloth to apply the solution to the exterior of your gutters. Let the solution sit for at least 5 minutes. Ideally, you’d have a pressure washer available to rinse off the gutter surface. If you don’t have one, a regular garden hose nozzle works well.

One of the best chemical options is a product called Krud Kutter. It’s a spray on liquid that removes dirt, mildew, fungus, and other stains. Krud Kutter is designed to clean exterior surfaces like aluminum gutters and downspouts. It’s non-toxic and contains no no bleach or ammonia. The best part is that it does not react to or cause aluminum or other metals to corrode. This is important because gutters are always always made from aluminum.

Read: What Month Should You Clean Gutters?

You just spray it on the surface of your gutters, wait 2-5 minutes, then wipe clean. We generally recommend you pressure wash to clean rather than wiping because you’ll get the effects of the cleaner as well as the pressure washer at the same time.

A few other chemical methods of removing black gutter stains are Gutter-Brite and Simple Green Pro HD. These products are lesser known than Krud Kutter, but they work in the same way. An annual cleaning with any of these products will almost guarantee stain free gutters for years to come.

Staining Prevention

The easiest way to prevent gutter staining is to prevent it from happening.

Preventing gutter staining is as easy as making sure your gutters are not overflowing. Walk out and take a look at your gutters during the next rain storm. Do you see water overflowing the sides of you gutters? If so, you should schedule a cleaning to have your gutters inspected and cleaned out. Ensure that your gutter cleaning technicians not only cleans the interior of your gutters, but also the exterior as well. We generally recommend an annual gutter cleaning appointment. This will ensure that your gutters remain free flowing, but also resist any exterior staining or streaking.

Conclusion

Remember, the longer you leave the black stains on your gutters, the harder it will be to remove them. That could mean multiple passes with the pressure washer or a lot of heavy duty scrubbing by hand. We recommend cleaning the surfaces of your gutters once per year. You can do the cleaning yourself using some of the tools and products mentioned above, or you can hire a professional to do the work for you. We’re more than happy to get the job done.