Black streaks show up on the gutters of about 1 out of every 4 houses. So it’s no surprise one of the questions I hear most is, “Will power washing clean the black streaks off my gutters?”
The honest answer: a regular house wash won’t. Our standard house wash solution takes care of dirt, black speckles, grime, mildew and mold. Those dark tiger-stripe streaks running down the outside of a gutter are the exception. They need a different approach, and that’s what our Gutter Brightening service is for.
Why Are Black Streaks on Gutters So Stubborn?
Most gutters are painted aluminum, usually powder coated, with a clear coat on top to protect the paint. The trouble is, gutter quality varies a lot. When a gutter starts streaking early in its life, it’s usually a sign of lower-quality painted aluminum. The clear coat isn’t protecting the way it should, so the sun oxidizes the surface. Then tar and dirt washing off the roof get stuck in that oxidized layer. That’s why plain soap and water just slide right over them.
How Power Play Brightens Gutters
Gutter Brightening is an add-on to our house wash. Here’s what happens:
- Hand-brushed cleaner. We hand brush a custom-designed, butyl-based cleaner onto the outside of all the gutters. This isn’t something we blast on from the ground. The brush gets the cleaner into the streaks.
- Dwell time. We let the cleaner sit and work on the streaks.
- Second scrub. After the dwell time, we scrub the gutters a second time.
- Thorough rinse. We wash the gutters and the siding below them thoroughly so no soap is left behind.
What you get: the streaks are gone, and in most cases your gutters look close to new again with that bright white shine.
Do You Need Gutter Brightening?
Not always. Dirty gutters don’t automatically mean you need it. If your gutters are just dirty or have some mildew, the standard house wash takes care of that. It’s only the dark black streaks that need the brightening treatment. If you aren’t sure which you have, send us a photo or ask when we come out for your quote.
What to Expect Afterward
I’d rather be upfront: we haven’t found a product yet that keeps streaks from coming back. Most gutters stay streak-free for about a year, but every home is different, so we can’t promise how long they’ll stay away. What we do promise is to do everything we can. If the streaks can be removed, we’ll get the job done.
Why Power Play
We’ve been cleaning homes in Lebanon, Lancaster, Dauphin and Berks counties since 2002. Our top two techs have over 45 years of combined experience, and we bring top-of-the-line equipment, ready for any situation: a professional power washer, dedicated pumps, soft wash equipment and more. We’re a registered PA home improvement contractor (PA HIC #PA062176), and we’re proud of our over 400 five-star reviews.
Ready to get those gutters looking bright again? Request a free quote or call us at 717-314-2360. Ask about adding Gutter Brightening to your house wash.
