Tim Walz's top cleaning tip tackles the most forgotten part of our home – he says this overlooked element is even more important than garden care

The Vice Presidential candidate recently shared his thoughts on one of the most important (but neglected) home improvement jobs we can do this fall

Tim Walz
(Image credit: James Brickwood / Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images)

It's not often that the political arena mixes with the world of interiors, but when it comes to the Vice Presidential candidate (AKA, "America's Dad"), home cleaning is an issue that is being brought to the forefront.

Minnesota governor Tim Walz recently hopped on Subway Takes, a TikTok series wherein guests give their thoughts and opinions on topics ranging from picnics to designer clothing. Walz's stance? Home improvement begins with cleaning the gutters. 'I’ve had problems with gutters before,' he says in the clip. 'You get your basement wet, you get ice dams, it causes a lot of problems.'

Gutter and downspout

(Image credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Experts agree that caring for gutters is a crucial element in maintaining a happy and healthy home. We got some additional tips from the cleaning experts at Toolstation, who emphasize Walz's argument: cleaning our gutters is one of the most important things we can do for our home.

'Gutters should be cleaned out and checked for damage each year. The job is best done in late fall after all the leaves have fallen. It's always best to wear sturdy work gloves to avoid scraping your hands on rough or rusty edges or on tiles or slates,' they explain.

Before starting, they suggest we'll need a ladder, protective gloves, a small trowel [such as this from Amazon], a bucket, and a piece of hardboard or a large rag. A hosepipe could be useful, too.

'To clean an overflowing gutter, you should put a piece of hardboard at the bottom of the downpipe to prevent debris from getting into the gully or drain, which could cause a blockage. Then scoop out any debris with the trowel and take care not to let anything drop into the downpipe and try to avoid debris falling down the walls because it may cause stains that could be hard to remove.' We'll get started with this job this fall.


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Hannah Ziegler
News Editor

Hannah is Homes & Gardens’ News Editor, with a focus on celebrity style and entertainment content. She got her start in media as a digital editorial assistant at ELLE Canada, and has since written about lifestyle and culture for publications such as Nylon and i-D.

Her love of film is rivaled only by one with a great soundtrack, and she hopes to someday decorate a Nancy Meyers-worthy kitchen.