Spring rains in the South make it imperative your gutters are clean and functioning for proper home maintenance. Here are just a few steps to follow in order to maintain gutters yourself. First, climb a ladder and clean the goop out of the gutters. The decomposed leaves make great mulch or compost. Pay particular attention to the downspout. If leaves and debris are clogging it, water won't drain properly, and along with mildew and mud you'll end up with sagging gutters.