How to Remove Black Streaks from Gutters

Having dirty gutters is inevitable. They not only look gross, but oftentimes this section of the house can be difficult to reach and clean. Continue reading if you want to learn how to remove black streaks from gutters.

You can easily restore your gutters by pressure washing, using soap, and agitating the surface with a brush. This combination will not only remove ugly black streaks, but it will restore the surface to the original color.

Where Do Black Streaks Come From?

It helps to understand where these black streaks come from, before cleaning your gutters. Most shingles are made out of asphalt and come in a variety of different colors.

The problem is that dyes in the asphalt can slowly wash away from rain and end up on your gutters. You don’t have to worry just yet, because it takes a few years for this discoloration to develop.

This issue can also develop from clogged gutters. If rain can’t drain properly, the water will overflow and spill over the sides. That’s why it’s critical to clean your gutters on a regular basis.

How to Remove Black Streaks from Gutters

This is a fairly easy project, but it can take a few hours depending on the size of your house. Make sure to set aside enough time so you don’t rush the cleaning process. It will only make the gutters look better and will avoid any sloppy mistakes.

1. Gather Supplies

Before beginning any project, it’s important to prepare the area and gather all of the necessary tools. For this specific cleaning method we will be using a pressure washer and a brush to further agitate the gutter surface.

You will need a pressure washer, long handle brush, soap, and a ladder. Make sure your ladder is tall enough so you can reach any second story areas. You will also need to clear any areas around the house of things that might get in your way.

Move any lawn chairs, outdoor tools, or children’s toys. It will be annoying trying to work around these objects, but you also don’t want to damage them in the process. Once you have followed all of these steps, it’s time to start cleaning.

2. Use Soap

Using a high quality soap will further help you remove black streaks from the gutters. There are many different types of detergents you can use, but an all purpose cleaner will get the job done right.

The good news is that modern pressure washers come with a built in canister for holding soap. Check the label first to figure out if your mixture needs to be diluted. You want to avoid clogging the pressure washer at all costs.

It’s best to work on one small section of the gutters at a time. Spray a 5-8 foot section before moving on to other areas. This method helps avoid the soap from drying out on the surface, which can happen in direct sunlight.

3. Agitate the Surface

In order to truly remove all of the black stains from the gutters, you will need to agitate the surface. This can be done with a brush after soap has been sprayed on. A long handle brush will work best and it will help you clean hard to reach areas.

It’s important to apply the correct amount of pressure during this stage. You don’t want to push down on the brush too hard, because this will cause damage to the gutters. Gutters tend to bend very easily due to their unique design.

At the same time, not applying enough pressure won’t clean the surface. The safest cleaning method is to begin using light amounts of pressure and slowly add more force until the gutters are completely clean.

4. Rinse

You can then rinse the gutters once you have successfully brushed them down with soap. This is an important step, because you need to remove any remaining dirt by spraying the gutters down with a pressure washer.

If you fail to do a final rinse, it can also give off a dirty appearance. The soapy water will eventually dry up in the sun and the gutters will not look white. If you put in all this work cleaning them, you might as well get the job done right.

Make sure to rinse down every surface of the gutters. They have a unique shape, so you will need to spray them down from different angles. This will guarantee that no leftover dirt will be hidden in any cracks or seals.

How to Clean Tiger Stripes on Aluminum Gutters

You might hear some people refer to black streaks as tiger stripes. This type of discoloration also occurs from dirty water overflowing from the gutters. Dirt, pollen, and other contaminants get stuck in the lip of the surface.

When the gutters overflow they will slowly begin to streak down the sides of the gutters. This is another inevitable problem and it will happen over time. That’s why it’s so important to clean your rain gutters at least once a year.

You can approach this same task by following the steps listed above. The only difference is the amount of pressure needed during the agitation stage. You should use light pressure when working with aluminum, because the finish can scratch easily.

Unfinished aluminum will be the most delicate. It does not have a layer of paint protecting the surface, which makes it easier to scratch. Make sure whatever brush you’re using has soft bristles that will not cause this problem.

How to Pressure Wash Gutters Safely

There’s nothing wrong with using a pressure washer on delicate areas around your house. Some people think these machines can be too powerful, but most mistakes are user related.

Pressure washers won’t damage your gutters and you can even use them to clean the exterior of a car. If you want to pressure wash gutters safely, it all comes down to using the correct nozzle attachment.

You want to avoid using a 0-degree nozzle, as the water stream will be focused on a small area and be too powerful. Instead, try using a 40-degree nozzle and a 25-degree nozzle.

It helps to experiment with different attachments, depending on what area of the house you’re cleaning. For hard to reach gutters you can try a more aggressive nozzle, because there will be enough distance to prevent any damage.

How to Remove Black Streaks from Gutters

Where Do Black Streaks Come From?