Sometimes prevention is the best cure and there are many products available that help deter leaves from entering your gutters. However they're not always foolproof and even these systems require some maintenance and can cost quite a bit to install.

If you haven't used any of these preventative measures then cleaning them is just a matter of process. Set yourself up with a bucket and ladder and gradually work your way around the gutters removing any leaves and twigs. This is great compost material so don't just throw it out with the garbage.

Once the majority of the debris has been removed, use a hose to flush any smaller waste into your downspouts. If you find that water is backing up rather than continuing to be drained away then your downspout may be blocked and require manually unblocking it.

There are two ways to do this. The first is much easier but requires a brush that will fit into the downspout and also be long enough to reach the end of it. There are tools that you can purchase for this.

If this isn't successful at dislodging the debris then you will need to unbolt the downspout and remove it from the gutter. This is quite tedious and you would only want to attempt this if nothing else has worked.

Once you've cleaned your gutters and downspouts thy shouldn't need cleaning again for another 12 months.