Part of maintaining the exterior of your home means keeping your gutters clean. A lot of homeowners attempt to do this job themselves to save some money. If you do there are a few safety tips you should abide by.

1. Be sure to use a sturdy ladder and be sure it is resting firmly on level ground. Clear away any straw or mulch if your ladder will be resting in a flower bed.

2. While using an extension ladder that is leaned on the gutters, try cutting a small 2×4 board that you can sit inside the gutter. By doing this, you will provide a solid location that you can safely set the ladder against without running the risk of severely damaging the gutter.

3. When you are on a ladder, never lean out to the left or the right of the ladder. Always keep your hips square with the ladder to maintain your balance.

4. When climbing the ladder you should not stand on the top 2 steps of the ladder. It is easy to lose your balance when standing on these two steps.

5. When working from the roof, never lean out over the gutter. You may want to purchase a safety harness and secure it to a sturdy item such as a chimney.

6. Never try to walk on the roof during rainy, icy, or windy conditions.

7. You should wear shoes with non-slip soles like sneakers or work boots while working on a ladder or working from the roof.

8. Always wear heavy duty work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal corners and screws sticking through metal surfaces.

9. Always wear protective eye wear or safety glasses to protect your eyes. Gutters will contain many small particles that could get in your eyes causing you eye damage or to lose your balance.

10. Never work around or near power lines.

Safety is an important part of cleaning your gutters on the your. If you will follow these simple safety tips you can do it carefully. Remember safety first when working around your home.