For most homes around Albion, Medina, and Brockport, two cleanings a year is the minimum: once in late fall after the leaves are down, and once in spring after the thaw clears winter debris and shingle grit.
Homes under maples, oaks, or pines often need a third cleaning in early fall, because seed pods and needles clog downspouts long before the main leaf drop.
The late-fall cleaning matters most. Gutters that go into winter clogged hold water that freezes solid, adding weight that pulls hangers loose and feeding the ice dams that push water under your shingles.
Don't forget the downspouts. A gutter can look clean from the ground and still be blocked at the elbow. Flushing each downspout with a hose is the only way to know water is actually reaching the ground and draining away from your foundation.