Aluminum is one of the best types of gutters because it has many advantages over other kinds. They are a great option for homeowners who want to improve their curb appeal and make their homes more energy efficient. Aluminum gutters are lightweight, easy to install, and long-lasting. However, when they get dirty or clogged with debris they can cause some problems for the homeowner. Aluminum gutters often develop stripes, which many homeowners find unattractive.
How to clean tiger stripes on aluminum gutters is a question we often get from people who need to know how to remove these unsightly marks. Tiger stripes are one problem that aluminum gutters can have. The tiger stripes are simply vertical traces of dirt found along the sides of gutters. These stripes form when dirt builds upon the surface of the gutter which causes it to oxidize in certain areas, resulting in black streaks that resemble tiger stripes on a white background.
These stripes can be difficult to remove without professional assistance due to their hardness and adhesion to the surface of the aluminum gutter. But if you are a patient, methodical person who enjoys doing things yourself, then it is certainly possible to do this work on your own. If you want to know how to clean these stripes off of your aluminum gutters then this article is for you! We’ll discuss what tiger stripes look like and why they form and how you can clean tiger stripes off your aluminum gutters in-home using a few simple household items!
Is Cleaning Tiger Stripes a Diy Project?
Cleaning tiger stripes off of aluminum gutters does not require a professional always, but it can be very difficult. However, we recommend hiring a professional gutter cleaning contractor if the stains are deep or hard to reach as there is potential for injury and damage that you could cause by attempting this project on your own.
But if you have any experience with home improvement projects and feel confident taking on the challenge by yourself and aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, of course, it’s possible for you to do the work yourself.
How to Clean Tiger Stripes on Aluminum Gutters Yourself
If you don’t want to hire a gutter cleaning professional and would rather clean the tiger stripes yourself, that task is definitely possible. If you have any experience doing home improvement projects, then this job should be easy for you as well. You’ll need some essential tools and materials for doing this job. Just follow the instruction below and you’ll be able to clean your gutters from tiger stripes by yourself.
Tools You’ll Need to Clean the Tiger Stripes
There are a few tools you’ll need to clean the tiger stripes off of your gutter. The tools you need will depend on the severity and depth of the stains that are found in your gutters. You’ll want to make sure that you have a few simple household items at hand before beginning this project or you can find these tools at your local home improvement store.
- Aluminum gutter cleaner
- Ladder
- Goggles
- Rubber gloves
- Scooper or trowel
- Bucket
- Hose connected to a tap or other water supply
- Scrubbing brush
- Protective clothing
- Extension pole
- Water
Steps to Clean Tiger Stripes Off
With the items mentioned above, you can begin the process of removing tiger stripes from your aluminum gutters. Tigerstripe removal is a fairly simple process but it is important to be patient as this may take a few hours.
Put on Protective Gear
To avoid any kind of injury, you should always wear protective gear such as goggles and rubber gloves when cleaning aluminum gutters. Even if you do it yourself on a regular basis cleaning aluminum gutters, it still might be the best option to wear protective gear.
It is always better to be safe than sorry when working with power tools and sharp materials such as nails. You could wear long clothes and maybe even a mask depending on how bad the situation is in your aluminum gutters. You must use rubber gloves to prevent the chemicals from entering your skin. The chemicals will otherwise seep into the gloves and harm you.
Prepare the Ground for the Chemicals
Before you go on cleaning your aluminum gutters make sure that there is some space available for the liquids to be drained. You do not want this liquid going everywhere so it’s a good idea to have a bucket or a drain close by. Cleaning chemicals can have a variety of negative consequences on plants, animals, and even objects placed in the ground.
As a result, you need to shield the plants, especially those under your gutters, from these chemicals. Keep in mind that chemicals entering your grass or flowers may cause long-term damage to the grass and flowers. Also, if you decide to use a hose instead of having the chemicals poured out directly from another container it’s a good idea to have that bucket ready to catch the water.
Prepare the Cleaner
The first step of the tiger stripe removal process is to prepare your cleaner. You do not need complicated or expensive chemicals for this purpose. In fact, you can probably get the necessary cleaning agents from your local supermarket and home improvement store.
The following are some of the most widely used gutter cleaners:
- Gutter Brite
- Gutter Zap Cleaner
- Streak Getter
- Gutter Magic No. 9
- GC32 Gutter Cleaner
- KRUD KUTTER
- Johnson S C Inc 00286 Fantastik All-Purpose Cleaner and many others.
Apply Your Chemicals to the Gutter
Now you should start applying the cleaning process. Depending on your gutter, you can either use a trowel or a large scooper to apply these chemicals onto the surface of your gutter or you have a choice between you can either spraying, applying with a brush, or simply pouring the chemicals down your gutter.
You can also choose between standing on the ground or on a ladder to apply these chemicals from a distance. The safer approach is to utilize a ladder because it will allow you to apply the chemicals from close range, which minimizes the risk of getting them on your skin.
Scrub the Gutter
It is now time to start scrubbing the gutter with your brush. The harder you need to scrub, the more likely it is that you will remove all of those stripes. If the results aren’t to your liking, repeat the procedure using an additional quantity of the chemical and scrub until your gutter is sparkling clean.
Try to use more of the cleaning solution or scrub harder. Make sure that you do not only focus on cleaning one part of your aluminum gutters as thoroughly as possible, but also various parts in order to clean the gutter as a whole.
Use Your Extension Pole
If you have an extension pole, you can use it to reach high-up parts of the gutters that were previously difficult for you to access without it. You can use this same approach on those parts of the aluminum gutters where branches and leaves lie – simply use your arm or a broom to clean the gutters.
Rinse Your Gutter
After you have scrubbed the whole of your aluminum gutter thoroughly rinse it with water. If you have a hosepipe on your property, use it to remove the cleaning products from your gutter, otherwise, scoop some water into a bucket and pour it out onto the gutters.
Once you’re happy with the results you can then leave it to dry or continue cleaning by using a blow dryer or a leaf blower. Your gutters are now clean and look far better than they used to before you started the cleaning process. You can now maintain your gutters by washing them with water at least once a week.
Please remember that if your gutters are dirty after following these steps, it is because they were not cleaned enough in the past. To keep your gutters clean for years ahead make sure you maintain them by washing them at least twice a year.
Clean the Ground
After the gutter cleaning is completed, You need to clean under the roof for any chemical spills from when you cleaned it. You do not want a chemical spill to run into the grass or flowers and cause damage. You can use a hose if you have one available. If you don’t have a hose, simply use any bucket that you have on hand to scoop water from a nearby drain and pour it onto the ground under your roof.
Products to Avoid While Gutter Cleaning
Common household items such as bleach, ammonia, and vinegar are often used to remove stains from aluminum gutters or roofs. However, they can actually damage the material your gutter is made of. Before you use any cleaning chemical to clean your gutters always ask yourself “can this be used on aluminum?”. If you do not know for sure, you should check the label of the chemical or contact a professional to find out if it is safe to use on aluminum gutters.
Tips to Prevent Tiger Stripes on Your Gutter
There are various things you can do to ensure that your gutters do not acquire stripes.
The 4 most important aspects of gutter cleaning are:
- Use a gutter guard system, The best way to avoid this problem is by using a gutter guard system on your house’s roof, for example, a leaf guard. This can be a mesh-like shield that attaches under the gutter and prevents leaves from getting inside it in the first place.
- The best time to clean gutters is in autumn when leaves are falling; this way they won’t block up the flow of water in winter
- Have your gutters cleaned at least once per year (two times if you live in an area that has heavy rainfall)
- Check the gutter guards to make sure they are still in place
Conclusion
By following the steps provided above, you should now have cleaned your aluminum gutters properly. Make sure to maintain your gutters by cleaning them at least twice a year and purchasing gutter guards which will help prevent dirt from accumulating over time.
In conclusion, if you maintained your aluminum gutters properly in the past by cleaning them at least twice a year and checking for any damage that may have occurred, they should remain clean. Please take action to clean your gutters before your next rainfall. This will help prevent a potentially bad situation from occurring when the rain starts coming down. What are your thoughts on aluminum gutter cleaning? Feel free to comment below.