If you're already on-site doing a house wash, adding a gutter flush takes 20-30 extra minutes and adds $75-$150 to the job. That's one of the best upsells in exterior cleaning -- and most contractors miss it because they're not sure about the right technique. Here's exactly how to clean gutters and downspouts with a pressure washer without causing damage.

The Quick Answer

Keep it below 1,500 PSI for most gutters. Use a 40-degree nozzle and a gutter wand attachment. Work from the end opposite the downspout toward it so debris flushes out the drain end. The whole process on a typical ranch house takes 15-25 minutes.

Standard aluminum or steel gutters: 1,200 -- 1,800 PSI, 40-degree nozzle
Vinyl gutters: Under 1,000 PSI -- vinyl cracks under stress
Downspout clearing: 1,000 -- 1,500 PSI, insert wand from the top, push the clog down
Never exceed 3,000 PSI on any gutter type -- high pressure expands small cracks into big ones

Done right, this service adds $75-$150 per job with almost no added drive time since you're already there.

Equipment You Need

You don't need new equipment to add gutter cleaning. One attachment does the job.

A gutter wand attachment connects to your existing pressure washer wand and has a 90-degree bend at the end, so you can angle water inside the gutter channel without climbing on the roof. They run $17-$40 at hardware stores (Ace Hardware carries them around $33-$40, cheaper ones on Amazon for $17-$25). If you already use a water-fed pole for windows, the same pole setup works for gutters with a low-flow nozzle.

What you'll also need:

Ladder (for access and final inspection): A 6-foot ladder for single story, 12-foot for two-story. Use a ladder stabilizer to keep the feet off the gutters -- direct contact crushes the channel.
40-degree nozzle (white tip): Wide spray angle, low impact. Do not use the yellow (15-degree) or red (0-degree) tip on gutters.
Tarp or plastic sheeting: Gutter flush sends dirty water and debris off the roof edge. Protect flower beds and vehicles parked below.

Pressure Washing Gutter Technique: Step by Step

Step 1: Clear the Roof First

If there's leaf debris on the roof, it'll just wash back into the gutters after you clean them. Blow or rake the roof before starting. This is especially important in fall when leaves are heavy.

Step 2: Start from the Closed End

Work from the end farthest from the downspout toward it. This pushes debris toward the drain outlet instead of packing it farther in. A lot of guys start at the downspout end and then wonder why nothing drains -- they're pushing the clog upstream.

Step 3: Spray Parallel to the Gutter Slope

Position the wand so it sprays along the slope of the gutter, not straight down into it. Straight-down pressure can force water behind the gutter fascia and cause water damage inside the wall. Spray at roughly a 45-degree angle, keeping the nozzle tip 6-8 inches from the gutter surface.

Step 4: Clear the Downspout

Insert the wand straight down into the top of the downspout. Let the pressure do the work. Most minor clogs clear in 30-60 seconds. If it's still blocked, pull the wand out and try from the bottom -- angle the water upward while a helper flushes from the top. Stubborn clogs may need a plumber's snake, which is worth noting as a paid add-on if you carry one.

Step 5: Final Rinse and Check

Run a garden hose from the top of the gutter to verify water exits cleanly at the downspout. Water pooling or backing up means a partial blockage is still there. Check the downspout at the bottom for proper discharge away from the foundation -- this is a good spot to recommend a downspout extension if it's discharging right against the house.

Safety: Don't Skip This Part

Gutter work happens on ladders. That makes it one of the higher-risk tasks in exterior cleaning. Here's what pros do differently:

Use a standoff stabilizer: Keeps the ladder away from the wall so you can see what you're doing and protects the gutters from ladder contact.
Keep three points of contact on the ladder at all times. Don't hold the pressure wand while climbing up -- stage the wand on the roof edge before you ascend.
On two-story homes, use a harness. One fall lawsuit ends a business. For two-story gutter work, a simple fall arrest harness costs $40-$120 and takes 5 minutes to put on.
Watch for overhead power lines. Extension wands and water are a dangerous combination near electrical lines. If lines are close, use a ground-level gutter wand attachment only.

How to Price Gutter Cleaning as an Add-On

When you're already on-site for a house wash, price the gutter flush as a discounted add-on:

Single-story ranch (100-150 linear feet): Add $75 -- $100
Two-story home (150-200 linear feet): Add $100 -- $150
Standalone gutter cleaning job: $150 -- $250 for most single-story homes (includes setup, travel, and minimum time)

The math is simple: if you do 3 house washes in a day and add a gutter flush to each, you're making an extra $225-$450 with maybe 90 minutes of additional work. That's $150-$300 per hour on top of your base rate.

For standalone gutter jobs, check out our full gutter cleaning pricing guide for a complete breakdown by home size and height. The cross-sell tactics in our gutter cleaning upsell guide also walk through exactly how to pitch this on-site.

When Pressure Washing Isn't Enough

Pressure washing handles light to moderate gutter buildup well. What it won't fix:

Compacted debris or mud clogs: If gutters haven't been cleaned in 3+ years, manual scooping may be needed first
Tree roots in downspouts: Pressure may not break these -- a plumber's snake is the right tool
Sagging gutters or separated seams: Cleaning won't fix these -- pitch the repair or replacement to the customer

Spotting these issues while you're up there is valuable. Customers appreciate the heads-up, and repair recommendations often convert to additional paid work.

Bottom Line

Pressure washing gutters is a quick, low-cost add-on for any exterior cleaning contractor. The right attachment costs under $40, the technique is straightforward once you know it, and the upsell potential is $75-$150 per existing customer with no extra drive time.

If you want customers to see gutter cleaning as an option when they quote your services online, try QuoteSnap for free. Add gutter cleaning to your service menu and customers can get instant pricing right on your website before they call.

Pressure Washing Gutters and Downspouts: Technique and Safety Tips (2026)