Gutter Cleaning Tool

Decided to invest in this leaf grabber and an extra long pole as an alternative to paying $300 per cleaning using a service. Carefully read the reviews in case this was better than the 3.7 star average suggested. Really pleased with the ease of use and ability to remove dry leaves and partially degraded clumps from my gutters two stories up.Though the rope was too short, I used some 60 pound fishing line to extend it to the bottom of the pole. Wrapped it around a wooden block at the bottom to make it easier to use (fishing line is a bit narrow and uncomfortable otherwise). I just grip the block and pull it down to operate the grabber.It took me about two minutes to master use of this leaf grabber tool, and about fifteen minutes before I decided how best to handle the gutter supports which are not viewable from below. I use the fully open grabber to push leaves away from the screw supports and then grab the leaves in the adjacent space. Easy to pick up many dry leaves per go, and effective at picking up large clumps of degraded leaf debris at the bottom of the gutters. Completed one section of about 25 feet in about 30 minutes, and with more experience, an equivalent section in about 15 minutes. Removed about 5-6 cubic feet of leaf matter.A couple caveats about my success: first, six inch gutters give plenty of room to grab leaves, and second, the leaves are narrow/oblong (Zelcova tree). Will try this on maple leaves on the other side of my house in a few days and update if there is any difference. (See edit below).All in all, really happy with this purchase, and would recommend, especially for people with wider gutters like ours.Edit: Was slow in moving around the house using this tool to clean gutters and discovered a few benefits. First it works well when trying to unplug a downspout during a downpour. Two decent grabs of wet mulch-like debris, and the downspout cleared. Excess water spilling out of the downspout brought with it even more debris. After several dry days I again used this on the front of my house to remove maple leaf debris, and it worked equally well as in the back with the Zelcove leaves. Have decided to adjust pole length sufficient to rest it on my upper thigh, which allows for decent fatigue-free cleaning. Having experienced a major downpour several days back, I revisited areas adjacent to downspouts previously cleared and found more debris had been swept close to the downspouts that needed removal. By this, I only need clean this area on a more regular basis, because the further away I go from the downspout, the lesser the leaf accumulation. Basically nothing about six feet or more on either side. Based on this experience I plan to use this every couple weeks during autumn starting when leaves begin to fall and ending when there is nothing left to remove. Not shooting for perfection and allowing the rain to gather the leaf debris near to the downspouts seems to work best. Have to believe that my six inch gutters play a positive role in this process in allowing the leaves to be swept towards the downspouts.Final verdict: super pleased with this purchase and looking forward to ladder-free, cheap gutter cleaning moving forward.

Tool works good. Just be easy with it. It also does not fit a painters extension. It takes one for a squeegee. It did unplug my gutter.

For $35, I would expect a more robust construction. The unidentified plastic material seems to be a recycled material. For such an application ( and price) they should be using something tougher like glass reinforced nylon for the plastic parts.I have 5 inch aluminum gutters with the roof shingles just entering the top inside edge of the gutters. The tool does require some trial and error in getting the tool into the gutter at the right angle and between the gutter brackets.The device easily becomes unscrewed from the pole during use. I had to use duct tape wrapped around the connection point with the pole in a attempt to keep it from spinning/loosening. I might try some type of rubber gasket between the pole and the tool before tightening next time.There is also a fair amount of play in the joint area where the paddles are connected which limits the ability to control the tool but it is likely there to enable easier insertion into the gutter.You can change the angle of the tool to adjust to the situation but that part of the tool looks susceptible to breaking ( easily, a weak area).In the end, I was able to make it work even though it is not that efficient in removing debris. At least I was standing on the round and not on a ladder.It is a good concept in need of a better execution. I gave it three stars because it might improve safety if one can stay off of a ladder.

It's easier to use with an angle attachment. Use the attachment to angle over the gutter and the built in right angle to go down into the gutter.

There are pros and cons to this item but the pros heavily outweigh the cons.Cons: If you have heavy debris you're going to have to pick it this for a while.The fishing line tends to stick after about 60 ft of pulling on it.Pros: you can easily replace the heavy duty fishing line that's used for the clamp. it's much safer than getting up on the second floor to try and do this yourself. It's economical.I rated it at 4 because after 60 ft it started to jam, And this was the fishing line starting to stick. The fishing line starts to get grooves in it so that the clamps won't open.it's not the clamps that are going bad but the fishing line. But it's just that super heavy fishing line.However if youre like me you like to get things done yourself but at the same time I'm not too comfortable getting up to the top on a 24-ft ladder anymore to clear my gutters. The cost is about $150 to $200 to have somebody come out and do it for me. The house I moved into was completely full and actually had plants growing out of the gutters.I have a pressure washer with an attachment for clearing gutters. But there was so much debris in these that the pressure washer won't clear them. It It just cakes up. But now that I have removed it with this tool I can use the pressure washer to clean the rest.I tried to get up on that ladder twice on the second floor. And finally decided it wasn't worth the risk. I've already fallen off a ladder a couple times in the past couple years and that's no fun. I'm not as young as I used to be.This item was able to clear all the heavy debris for me. After clearing about 60 ft it started to stick. But here's the thing, I paid 30 bucks for it. I probably saved myself a good $170 and I can replace the fishing lane. Even if I had to replace this thing every year for $30 it would be well worth not having to climb my 24 ft ladder to get on the roof or to even get up to the gutters. At 52 I feel I don't need to take unnecessary risk. When things break they don't heal so easily anymore.What's my point?I feel this was well worth the money. It's safe to use and got the job done even with heavy debris that I had to pick out. I still had to get up on the ladder because most poles won't reach, but I didn't have to get up nearly as high and it was a height I was willing to work at.at the end of the day if you have the same problems I do I suggest buying this. Get yourself a sturdy extension pole that goes to at least 12 ft anything longer might be too flimsy. I used a light bulb changing pole that I bought on Amazon.I wanted to give this a five because I honestly think it's a lifesaver.