If you prefer to maintain your own gutters, here's how to do it, compliments of Roofco:

How To Clean Gutters and Downspouts

Just do it! Clean the gutters and downspouts on your house twice a year and you'll be spared untold expense and aggravation in the future. This routine requires nothing but your time. Schedule the job in the Spring and Fall seasons, when an accumulation of leaves and debris can clog in downspouts and gutters and prevent the flow of rainwater away from the house. It you put off the job, it is a sure bet you will have water seepage problems, not to mention water damaged siding and trim.

Because you'll be working from a ladder, it's convenient to have a helper who can be the "go--fer" to run and fetch. This speeds up the job and prevents you from making countless trips up and down the ladder. You will need two lightweight buckets, work gloves, and a garden hose to flush out the gutters upon completion of the cleaning. You can use your hands to remove gutter screens, if needed, and shovel out the debris into buckets.

Carefully position your ladder against the house to avoid resting it on the gutter if possible. The direct weight of you and the ladder can crush or severely bend the gutter. One easy solution to this problem is the purchase of a ladder stabilizer which is a U shaped aluminum bar that bolts to the top of the ladder and holds it away from the building. It also helps prevent the ladder from twisting or sliding. Move the ladder often to avoid stretching your body

Begin cleaning the gutters at the corner close to the downspout. Remove any debris that may be clogging the downspout. Then work your way along the gutter until the bucket is too heavy to handle or it's filled with leaves and debris. Pass the full bucket to your helper to dispose of and continue filling up the empty one.

As you complete work along one stretch of the gutter, check to see that it is firmly attached to the house. Straighten or replace any faulty gutter hangers. Move the ladder as you work your way around the house and clean the entire system of gutters and downspouts. To check that water is running freely and not leaking you can flush the system with your garden hose. Caulk any leaks with a good quality acrylic latex caulk.

If you live in a heavily wooded area consider adding gutter screens which help prevent debris from getting into the gutters.