Why Your Gutters Have Black Streaks on the Outside (and How to Clean Them)
Emptying gutters clears the inside. The dark vertical stripes on the outside face are a separate problem, and a hose alone usually won't touch them.
What the stripes are
Dirt, roof runoff and airborne grime cling to the gutter face and bond to the painted finish over time. Water running over the lip leaves them in vertical lines.
Why rinsing doesn't work
The grime is bonded to the finish, so it usually needs a suitable cleaner and gentle hand agitation, not just water pressure.
Do it with a house wash
Gutter faces are usually cleaned during a house wash, while the siding and trim are already being done, so everything ends up evenly clean.
What you can try yourself
- Test any cleaner on a small hidden section first
- Use a soft brush on an extension pole
- Rinse from the top down
What to avoid
- Abrasive pads that dull or scratch the finish
- High pressure aimed up under the roof edge
- Standing on the top rungs of a ladder
When to call a professional
We clean gutter faces during house washing and can empty the gutters on the same visit. Send a photo of the stripes for a quote. See our gutter cleaning service.
What customers say
"I recently hired 1st Class Pressure Cleaning to clean our house exterior, windows, and gutters, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The house looks amazing! The owner, Curtis was professional, punctual, and very responsive to all of my messages. On top of the great service, the price was incredibly fair and reasonable. I will definitely be using his services again in the future. Five stars!"
Kirsten C. · Google Review
"I would highly recommend 1st Class Pressure Clean. They did a great job cleaning my driveway and sealing it,also cleaning my house gutters. Looks like new. Eddie"
EDDIE W. · Google Review
"I used First Class Pressure Cleaning to seal my aggregate driveway and they did a fantastic job. It was in rough shape as we had never sealed it before. Lots of salt damage as well from trying to de-ice the last winter storm. It looks so much better now. They even came back the next day for touch-ups on some areas where the winter salts had worn through to the concrete. Very happy with this company and the work they’ve done!"
Dan · Google Review
96 Google reviews from homeowners and businesses across Middle Tennessee. Read them all on Google.
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