How to Keep your outdoor fountain clean and free of mosquitoes

This is an easy way to keep your outdoor water fountain clean and pest free. In the summer, water fountains are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and they also develop scum buildup.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• liquid cholorine from pool supply store

1. First, start with a clean water fountain. Scrub and clean your outdoor water fountain with a brush. You can find a good scrub brush in the grocery store. Concrete fountains can handle wire bristles, but use a heavy duty plastic-type brush for resin or plastic water fountains.

2. You can purchase liquid chlorine at many pool supply stores. If it is not stocked, ask for it and they will usually order it for you. I purchase liquid chlorine in gallon bottles.

3. Once the fountain is clean, add a small amount of the liquid chlorine directly into the water while the pump is running. An average size fountain would require one to two capfuls. If you do not have a cap, use approximately two tablespoons. This will prevent the mosquitoes from breeding in your fountain. Also, another benefit is that scum and algae do not grow as fast on your fountain.

4. Add fresh liquid chlorine each time you drain and refill your fountain. I add the chlorine every week on average.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful pouring the chlorine as it will bleach your clothes if you splash it. Also, the chlorine will kill your lawn grass. However, a small amount does not seem to hurt the grass when the water from the fountain oversprays the lawn.