Gutter cleaning vs. gutter brightening — what's the difference?

Every fall I get calls asking to "clean the gutters." Half the time the caller actually wants the black tiger stripes on the *outside* of the gutters removed — that's a totally different job.

This is scooping and flushing out the leaves, seed pods, and shingle grit that collects inside the gutter run. It prevents overflow, ice dams, and roof rot. This is a fall-and-spring job.

Those dark vertical streaks on the outside face of white gutters aren't dirt — they're oxidized aluminum bonded with airborne pollutants. Regular washing barely fades them. Brightening uses a specific cleaner that lifts the oxidation, then a soft rinse.

Once brightened, gutters look almost new. It's one of the most dramatic before/afters I do.

Usually yes, but not always the same visit. I recommend:

• Interior clean twice a year (April, November)
• Exterior brightening once every 1–2 years, usually with a house wash

Interior gutter cleaning on a typical single-story here runs $75–$125. Exterior brightening is usually added onto a house wash for another $50–$100 depending on linear footage. Ask when you get a quote — I'll break it out honestly.