Cleaning gutters is important because it can affect water penetration in your house. So often when there is water coming in you can find the source is bad grading on the exterior. often that bad grading can be from clogged gutters that overflow and then wash away the soil allowing water to penetrate the home. so keeping those gutters clean is an important issue.
Certainly you can use gutter guards and there are many sorts, some working better than others. But I have found even with gutter guards some seeds and debris finds its way in to the gutter so they need to be regularly cleaned to keep them free and working efficiently. Which is harder with the guard as you have to remove them and re-attach them as well.
It is a necessary evil, cleaning your gutters and a job that I have not found anyone I know to love till now. Why now? I saw this handy new tool that came out about a year ago I believe, see video below. I have not used one but it certainly looks fun and easier than climbing on the roof and inching along getting your hands filthy from all the debris. You still have to get up on a ladder and you would obviuosly need to remove the gutter guards but with this machine it may not be necessary to even have the guards if you use this regularly.
Hello Nick and Trudy - Thanks for the great information. I've never seen one of those.