How to Clean an Outdoor Fountain

Clean an outdoor fountain regularly to provide clean water for the birds and wildlife. They count on the water here in Central Texas, particularly in the heat of the summer.

We have a purchased rock-style fountain with a pump and light, but they all work basically the same way. There will be pictures when the picture server is functional.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• an outdoor fountain
• water
• safe cleaning products
• a cleaning brush
• more water

1. Disconnect any electrical connections to an outdoor fountain before starting a cleaning process. Remove any light bulbs or accessories that can be removed.

2. 
    

   Take the fountain apart if it comes apart. Ours has tiers that sit on top of each other, and yours probably does, too.

3. Empty the old water from the fountain, and remove any loose leaves or grass. Our outdoor fountain is set into a flower bed landscaping, so it often gets grass from the mowing or trimming.

4. 
    

   Use a brush to scrub the algae and any build up on the sides and bottom of the outdoor water fountain. We use Simple Green, baking soda, or Dawn detergent to improve the ability of the scrub brush to remove the chemical buildup at the water line of the water fountain.

5. 
    

   Rinse well to remove any cleaning product residue, since birds and wildlife are sensitive to these products. These cleaning products are safer than most, but have not been tested for wildlife or bird food.
   
   The chlorine water is probably more damaging to birds and wildlife than the cleaning products, but after the water sits for awhile in the sun, it is safe for the animals and birds.

6. 
    

   Assemble the outdoor fountain as it was when you started, place the light bulb back in and fill it with water. Plug the motor back into the socket and watch for the birds, wildlife and butterflies to come visit. They will appreciate that you can clean the outdoor fountain with products safe enough to keep them alive.

Tips & Warnings

• We often write about landscaping and flower gardening. We try to attract birds, wildlife and butterflies to the yard by keeping water available. See Resources below for more articles.
• copyright 2009 Linda Richard
• Feel free to link to this article or send it to a friend.

Resources

• Landscape with Flowers and Shrubs on a Budget
• Grow Liriope as a Flower Bed Border
• Grow a Cacti Dish Garden
• Grow Perennial Herbs for Flowers or Food
• Grow a Mimosa or Silk Tree for a Landscape
• Make a Flower Pot from a Bird Bath
• Attract Birds Wildlife Butterflies to a Yard
• Grow Irises that Bloom
• Grow Esperanza Yellow Bells
• Harvest Flower Seeds
• Make Money Selling Plants and Flowers
• Grow Dwarf Amaryllis
• How to Modernize a Seventies Landscape and Yard
• Grow Knockout Roses
• Grow Chrysanthemum Pacifica

[kristara]

on 9/16/2009 Excellent cleaning tips 5*

[godfather25]

on 9/9/2009 Awesome tips on cleaning an outdoor fountain.