Unfortunately, as people age, they often start to lose mobility, balance and dexterity, and if you are an elder struggling with these issues, you may find it challenging to keep your gutters clean. If you have been climbing up a ladder and cleaning them by yourself, it may be time to explore alternative options.

Here are four tips and ideas to consider:

1. Get off the ladder.

Losing your balance and falling while on a ladder can be disastrous at any age. However, for elders, falling is especially dangerous, and in fact, it is the number one cause of death by injury for people over the age of 65.

Luckily, there are a range of products you can use to clean your gutters without getting up on a ladder. These products offer a degree of safety simply because they keep both of your feet on the ground.

You can buy extendable tongs that allow you to pull leaves and debris out of the gutter from the ground. Alternatively, you can buy special vacuums that suck debris out of your gutters, or in some cases, you can add long gutter cleaning attachments to your wet vac.

2. Don't forget about preventative maintenance.

In addition to developing new cleaning strategies, it's also important to focus on increasing your preventative maintenance routine.

If possible, pay someone to trim any trees that are hanging over your gutters. That will help to keep them clean and to reduce the amount of time you have to spend cleaning.

3. Consider gutter guards.

In addition to trimming your trees, consider investing in gutter guards. Gutter guards, which are also referred to as gutter mesh or gutter protectors, slip over your gutters, preventing leaves and other debris from getting into them. As a result, they minimise the need for cleaning.

If you cannot afford traditional gutter guards, you can make a reasonable facsimile using a bit of screen.

4. Make a standing order for gutter cleaning.

Rather than spending money on tools to help you clean, gutter guards or tree trimming services, consider investing in professional gutter cleaning services from a company like ACT Gutter Service.

Many professional gutter cleaning companies may be willing to set up a standing order. You simply tell them how often you want your gutters cleaned, and then they will automatically come at those intervals.

For more tips on tackling gutter cleaning, contact a gutter cleaning expert.