Importance of Gutter cleaning

One aspect of exterior home maintenance can be more important than most of homeowners 
realize; gutter cleaning. Generally, gutters play a very important role in the structural 
integrity of a house, and keeping them clean is a better way of avoiding the potential 
cost expenses associated with gutter repairs. The main function of gutters is to
 guide the rain water off the roof and straight down the drain. However, despite their
 importance, though, it may be very easy to forget about their maintenance until something
 goes wrong. For instance, if your gutters become clogged, the ultimate results
 may be serious to an extent of causing structural damage and the resulting damp can
 cause health issues for you and your family.

Knoxville Tn has always been a subject to damaging weather patterns including storms and winds. 
This is a city where gutter blockages may pose serious risks to a home and business premises. Even
 if you have plastic, pressed steel, or iron gutters, it is important to clean them
 annually in order to keep them performing properly. Besides that, here are some of the
 reasons for keeping your gutters clean, they include:

To avoid cracked foundations and leaking basements Basically, when your gutters 
become clogged, they become the major source of problems associated with leaking 
basements. The roof water can overflow and accumulate around the foundation. 
In case that happens, beyond no doubt, basement leaks can be a moment away 
and the intemperance water against the foundation can consequently cause the
 footings to weaken and thus leading to cracks.

To avoid internal damages

Basically, Clogged and overflowing gutters may let water run into the internal roof area,
 past your fascia boards. This can lead to swollen ceilings and damage to the integrity of 
your roof structure. Overflowing of water into the ceiling can cause a direct damage 
causing your ceiling to show stains, damage insulation, light fittings and electrical wiring. 

Reduce the possibility of wood-destroying insects from breeding

The lack of cleaning of gutters may be the source of water pooling in areas blocked by
 debris. The condition is perfect for breeding mosquitoes. Insects normally love moisture 
and will probably make a permanent home in the gutter wreckage.

Avoiding rotted wood

When your gutters have debris stack above the single or flashing line, this debris is likely
 to hold enough moisture on the fascia board. The moisture may also have adverse effects 
on the roof covering and framing past the fascia. Debris usually works as a wick and drains
 water to the bottom side of the gutter up to the fascia. So many people have spent a lot 
of dollars in replacement of rotted wood which an inexpensive gutter cleaning expert could 
have simply prevented.

To keep away from driveways

Generally, blocked gutters can typically cause driveways and walkways resulting in sagging and cracking. 

Conclusively, it is good not to ignore the role which clean gutters have on ensuring that the 
drainage system of your home runs smoothly. Damage caused by water may be costly and therefore
 gutter cleaning is a preventative maintenance on your most valuable assets. 

Cleaning Tips and Tricks
 written by: moleak
  As the person who does the cleaning in not one, but two households, I have found that, over time, I have been doing everything the hard way. And by the hard way, I mean the wrong way, which is to say the expensive way. I have never been able to resist the allure of expensive cleaning products which make your home smell like the Himalayas. But are they the best choice? Not always. Here are some tips, tricks, and life hacks to help you avoid the common cleaning pitfalls.

Tip #1 – Baking Soda

For reasons we cannot understand (science!) baking soda is one of the most versatile cleaning products you can use. And it isn't even a product! It can be used to clean your sofa, unclog drains, disinfect your oven (with vinegar), remove stains from carpets, freshen your mattress, remove grout, clean toilets, combine with vegetable oil to clean cabinets, and a whole host of other applications. If you have room for only one thing in your cleaning arsenal, it should be baking soda.

Tip #2 – Clean Carpets with an Iron

One of the most difficult, and often dirtiest, things to clean in a home is the carpet. You do not, however, need to hire expensive carpet cleaners to freshen up your rug. You simply need an iron, a clean cloth, some water, a cheap spray bottle, and some vinegar. Create a cleaning solution using one part of vinegar with two parts of water. Spray it on the stain, place the cloth over the solution, and iron using the steam setting for one minute. Voila! No more carpet stains.

Tip #3 – Cleaning the Oven

There are few life hacks you can use to make cleaning a greasy oven a piece of cake! One of them involves baking soda (naturally). Mix four tablespoons of white vinegar, five tablespoons of baking soda, and five drops of dishwashing liquid. Spread the solution over the oven, leave for 20 minutes, and wipe clean with a sponge. The alternative method requires almost no effort. Simply put 1/2 a cup of ammonia solution into a cold oven overnight and wipe clean the following day.

Tip #4 – Cleaning the Bathtub

Much like the carpet a bathroom can be an absolute nightmare to clean. Between the shower, bathtub, sink, tiles, and floor it can take days. That is, it can take days if you don’t use our hacks. Two such hacks involve cleaning the bathtub. Mix a tablespoon of soap with half a dozen drops of antibacterial oil and, of course, baking soda. Add some water and wipe the tub with a sponge. You'll be left with a sparkling tub that smells like a spa. You can also use grapefruit to clean the ever-frequent rings around the tub. Cut the fruit in half, add some salt, and scrub the stain.

Conclusion

Whether you're cleaning the home because it is spring cleaning season, you're moving, you have an upcoming inspection from your letting agency, it can be a hugely daunting task. We hope that with these life hacks, and some good elbow grease, you can get through that cleaning just a little bit faster. When in doub