How To Clean A Water Fountain

Introduction: Outdoor water fountains can add a great deal to the aesthetics of a property, however they do require a moderate amount of maintenance in the way of cleaning to remain attractive. For a water fountain that is of normal size for an average home, cleaning should only take an hour or so and should be performed at least once monthly during warm weather but there are a few exceptions to this standard rule of thumb. If the water that in running through a water fountain is excessively hard water of if the water fountain is located in constantly bright sunshine, the fountain may need to be cleaned every two weeks as algae and calcium deposits tend to form more quickly in these circumstances.

Step 1: The first step to clean a water fountain is to turn off the fountain pump and then remove any loose fountain components such as decorative stones or ceramic features. The next action is to drain the fountain of it's existing water - this can be accomplished by removing a drain plug when one is present or by gently tipping the fountain onto it's side. After the fountain has been drained of it's water, take a liberal amount of paper towels and wipe the inside of the water fountain. The drain plug can then be replaced and the water fountain set upright so that it can be filled with the appropriate cleaning agents to get the job done.

Step 2: The presence of algae, calcium and mineral deposits are the culprits in making a water fountain get the nasty looks, and while there is a different cleaning agent that will remove each one the agents can be combined together to clean a water fountain more quickly. A gallon of hot water with a few tablespoons of dish soap and a few ounces of chlorine bleach mixed together works great as an all-purpose cleaner when the water fountain is gently scrubbed with a soft bristled brush and then rinsed thoroughly. For tough calcium deposits a commercial lime remover can be used following the soap and bleach treatment on a water fountain's interior.

Step 3: It's very important when cleaning a water fountain to use caution when working with bleach and other caustic cleaning solutions, not only in terms of protecting yourself by wearing gloves and safety goggles but to protect animals and small children. A water fountain should never be filled with any cleaning solution and left unattended, as it may present a danger to birds and other animals searching for a drink of water.

Comments (0)