UPVC Gutter Cleaning and Whitening

Inside versus outside

Gutter clearing deals with debris inside the gutter. Exterior cleaning deals with the faces you see from the street. They are often done together, but they are different jobs, and it is worth being clear which you are asking for.

What marks UPVC

Green algae grows on shaded faces. Black streaks form where dirty water spills over the gutter lip or runs down from joints. Traffic grime, cobwebs and dust collect on soffits. Overflowing gutters stain fascias with tide marks.

Gentle cleaning methods

UPVC is cleaned with suitable cleaning solutions, soft brushes and gentle rinsing. Abrasive pads, harsh solvents and high pressure can scratch, dull or discolour the surface, so they are avoided.

What whitening can and cannot do

Cleaning removes grime and growth and restores much of the original look. It does not reverse yellowing caused by age and sunlight, which is a change in the plastic itself. Very old UPVC may stay slightly off-white after cleaning.

Fixing the cause

If the same streaks return quickly, water is probably escaping from the gutter. Overflow, leaking joints or a blocked outlet need dealing with first. Our stained fascia guide explains the causes.

Timing with other work

If the roof is being cleaned, do the roof first, then the gutters, then the fascias and soffits, so debris from above does not spoil a clean finish.

Soffits and vents

Soffits are the boards under the eaves, often with small vents that let air into the roof space. Cobwebs, dust and algae collect around vents. Cleaning soffits gently avoids pushing water into the vents and roof space.

Coloured and woodgrain UPVC

Not all UPVC is white. Black, brown, grey and woodgrain finishes are common. Coloured finishes can fade or mark if cleaned harshly, so the same gentle approach applies.

How long a clean finish lasts

Shaded elevations, homes near trees and properties beside busy roads tend to mark again faster. Keeping gutters flowing properly removes the main cause of streaks. Washing down fascias occasionally keeps them looking fresh between cleans.

Damage to look for

While cleaning the outside of gutters and fascias, it is easy to spot cracked sections, missing end caps, loose brackets and gaps where fascias meet. Anything found can be noted for repair.

Why streaks form on the gutter front

When a gutter overflows, dirty water runs over the front edge and dries in vertical streaks. Even small, frequent overflows leave marks. The streaks are a clue that the gutter inside needs clearing.

Bird droppings and spiders

Gutters and fascias near roosting spots collect droppings, and soffits attract spiders. These are cleaned gently with the rest of the surface.

Inside and outside at one visit

Many owners combine clearing the inside of the gutters with cleaning the outside faces, fascias and soffits. Clearing first means the gutters stop spilling over and marking the fronts again, then the exterior can be cleaned to a finish that lasts. Doing both together also means access is set up once rather than twice.

Tell us which elevations you want cleaned. Front elevations are the most common request, but rear and side faces often carry more algae because they are shadier.

What to send when asking

A photo of each elevation you want cleaned, showing the gutters, fascias and soffits, is ideal. Close-ups of the worst streaks and any cracked or loose sections help too. That lets us quote for exterior cleaning, gutter clearing or both, without a visit in many cases.

Ask for a quote

Tell us whether you want the gutters cleared, the outside cleaned or both. Quotes are free across Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex.