10 Questions for . . . Robert Lenney, Gutter Expert

In this installment of 10 Questions for . . . , Associate Editor Gian Trotta talks with Robert Lenney, a cofounder of California-based Gutterglove and a former certified arborist. In December 2007,  Lenney and partner John Lewis received a patent for their Gutterglove gutter-guard system, which uses a fine stainless-steel mesh stretched across anodized aluminum panels.

You've cleaned many gutters in your time. How should a homeowner start planning the task?
Always think about safety first; don't just go jump on the roof and start tossing out handfuls of gunk. Pick a day when it hasn't rained for a few days; if that's not possible, wait until midmorning, after the sun has dried out the roof.

Do you recommend any special clothing?
I recommend wearing durable pants like jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. Tuck your shirt into your pants—when you're up on a ladder or on a roof, balance is everything, and if a loose end of clothing catches on something, it can cause a fall. Tucking the bottom of your pants into your socks also protects against wasps crawling up your pants leg.

I certainly agree about the wasp hazard; I got stung on my last gutter-cleaning foray. What about gloves?
Leather rather than cotton or rubber gloves give better protection—there are a lot of sharp edges in a gutter. Also, you might encounter some very distasteful substances—pigeon droppings are a prime example—that can cause bacterial infections or leave a lingering smell on your hands. I also recommend some kind of eye protection, either goggles or safety glasses.

When it comes to ladder safety, what precautions do you observe?
There are some precautions to observe with all ladders. Try to set an extension ladder so about 3 feet of it extends above the roofline. While the ladder might feel secure when you step on it, there might be a gopher hole or loose soil under the leg and it could cave in as you climb up. So very lightly jump up and down a few times on the first rung to seat the ladder well before climbing up. If the ladder has a shelf, you can keep a five-gallon bucket on it, securing the bucket with a lanyard.

Inspect the ladder carefully to make sure it's working properly. Be sure the hinge arms on a stepladder and spring hooks on an extension ladder are fully locked. Check that the ladder's rungs and sides aren't  split or bent or loose and that screws and bolts are secure—ladders held together with rivets are usually better in this regard.

(Here are some additional guidelines from the experts at Consumer Reports: Ladders are categorized by weight ratings; we recommend that you get a heavy-duty type 1A. For gutters above 17 feet you should use a conventional extension ladder. Choose a fiberglass or wooden ladder where electricity is a factor, and remember that any ladder can conduct electricity when it’s wet. Extension ladders should be set up with the base 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet the ladder reaches up—that's 3 feet at the base for a 12-foot ladder, or roughly a 75-degree angle. For lower gutters, you can use a stepladder or multiuse ladder. No matter which ladder you have, always follow manufacturers directions for setup. For more ladder-safety advice, read our safety tips.) 

What other specialized tools should be used?
Don't use that heavy metal planter scoop from your garden kit or an old spatula. They can scratch steel gutters and give rust and opportunity to form. They can also damage the caulking used on seams of other types of metal gutters.

Those plastic orange gutter scoops sold in stores have one nice quality: Their tips are thin and flexible, so they conform to the contours of your particular gutter style. The downside is they're not as strong as a metal tool, so we go through a lot of them in a season. But the average homeowner should get a few years out of a scoop.

Tip of the Day: Buy a reliable vacuum

A reader recently posted the following comment on our vacuums forum: "And quite simply a product that works great but doesn't last can hardly be considered a so called Best Buy."

That person was right, of course. Vacuums can be expensive, so you want one that lasts for years. Warranties aren't the answer. The majority of the upright and canister vacuums we've tested offer a one-year limited warranty that covers defects in materials or workmanship but doesn't include routine repairs.

Some vacuums come with a longer warranty, but wouldn't you rather have a one-year-warranty model that never breaks than a five-year-warranty appliance that you have to haul to the repair shop once or twice a year?

That's where our brand-reliability data for uprights and canisters (available to subscribers) will help you make a wise choice when you buy a new vacuum. This information, from the Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, is based on the experiences of 135,000 readers who bought a vacuum in the past five years.

Based on this large sample of readers, we know that, in general, canister models have been more repair-prone than uprights, and that Kirby has been among the more reliable brands of upright vacuums. Eureka and Kenmore have also been reliable brands and offer the best combination of performance and price, earning these uprights Best Buy status. Some of the recently tested Hoover uprights offer good performance at an attractive price, but other brands were more reliable.

When you're standing in a store where dozens of different models are on display, shopping for a vacuum can be daunting. You have to not only choose among all the different types but also consider myriad features and the manufacturers' hype, not to mention staying within your budget. It would help if you could test-drive the vacs, but often you can't.

To find the best vacuum for your home, consider how a model did in our latest tests and select a brand with a good repair history to improve your odds of getting a vacuum that will last.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Before you head to the store, watch our exclusive video buying guide for vacuums (above).

Safety Alert: Dirt Devil Kone vacuums

Dirt Devil describes its Kone M0213 handheld vacuum, $45 (and similar M0212, $43), “an elegant, sculptural form that can be left on display.” Our latest tests suggest that you might want to do just that.

Learn more about these vacuums in our Safety Alert and by watching the video (right).

Essential information: Read our brand-new vacuum buying guide, which reveals several standout cleaners and some models to skip.

Tip of the Day: Clean your ceiling fans

My approach to housekeeping is akin to the “If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a noise?” conundrum: I don’t mind the weekly ritual of cleaning my house, but I do cut corners where I can—if I can’t see the grime, then it doesn’t count.

I’ve often taken this tack when with ceiling fans. From below, I usually don’t notice the dust and grime on my fans. But when I recently climbed a stepladder for a closer look at the one in my bedroom it was clear I had to clean the fan. The dust and grime weren’t overwhelming—yet. So I decided to tackle this simple task before it could turn into a messy ordeal.

When you’re cleaning your ceiling fans, first find out what steps the manufacturer recommends, and then consider our experts’ suggestions below. Remember, clean a fan only after you’ve turned it off and the blades have come to a full stop. And cover the floor (and furniture) beneath the fan with a drop cloth. If the blades are lightweight, handle them with care.

• Use a long-handled, ceiling-fan duster to remove dust. (These special round brushes are sold at hardware stores and home centers.) The blade fits in the inner part of the duster and will clean both sides of the blade at the same time.

• If your fan is equipped with a light, gently dust the fixture (and the bulb, if it’s exposed) with a soft cloth.

• To remove accumulated grime, wash the blades and fan housing with a damp cloth sprayed with an all-purpose cleaner or dipped in a solution of water and mild detergent. (Learn how to make your own household cleaners.)

• Then wipe the blades with a cloth dampened with water to remove detergent residue.

• Finally, dry the blades thoroughly— dampness attracts dust.

Be careful when you’re reaching up to clean the blades if you don’t have a brush. If you need to buy a ladder for this and other household chores, see our review of ladders.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our latest report on ceiling fans to choose the right models for your home. And learn how to stay cool without running up your utility bills. Use our Home Improvement Guide interactive to take a room-by-room tour of the top-rated appliances and most cost-effective improvements you can make to your home.

America takes on spring cleaning

Nearly 77 percent of Americans will undertake some type of spring cleaning this year, according to a recent survey by the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), a cleaning-products trade group. Men and women tackle these seasonal chores, though more women (86 percent) than men (68 percent) tidy up behind furniture, wash windows, clean appliances and floors, and tend to bedclothes/linens.

Not surprisingly, many survey respondents admit to not liking the task, which is nowhere near as fun as that other rite of spring: the start of a new baseball season. Indeed, nearly a third of respondents would pay $100 to hire someone to do their cleaning for them.

I’d have thought that more people would give up household cleaning, but it seems that Americans do like this chore: Only 8 percent of respondents to the SDA’s 2004 spring-cleaning survey described house cleaning as a job they dislike, while 88 percent considered cleaning as important to keeping their families happy, healthy and safe; maintaining a presentable home; or providing a sense of satisfaction when finished.

The benefit to spring cleaning? More than 50 percent of respondents feel a thorough cleaning once a year cuts down on their cleanup work the rest of the time.

Seventy-five percent of those surveyed look for product effectiveness as key in the cleaners they buy (they also like multipurpose cleaners), and they also consider cost and convenience when shopping. They’re  increasingly seeking out green or organic cleaning products, like those recently introduced by Clorox and SC Johnson. See our blog on this industry trend.

Consumer Reports, of course, is here to help you get through these annual—and arduous—chores. Refer to our Spring Cleaning Guide for expert advice on keeping your home and your car looking their best. If you’re in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, read our latest report and watch the video buying guide at right. And for any heavier-duty tasks in the garage, basement, or workshop, learn about wet/dry vacuums.—Cyndi Schoenbrun, Senior Research Analyst