How to Clean a Water Fountain

Co-authored by Anthony "TC" Williams

Last Updated: February 12, 2022 References

Water fountains come in all shapes and sizes, from decorative water fountains to drinking fountains. Cleaning these fountains mostly involves scrubbing them down and making sure to remove any hard water buildup. While decorative fountains only need to be cleaned every month or so, drinking fountains should be cleaned at least once a day to keep them sanitary.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Washing a Decorative Water Fountain

1
Turn off the fountain. Before cleaning your fountain, it's best to turn it off and take the pump out to make cleaning easier. You can also remove any items in the fountain, such as large rocks.^{[1]
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- Always check your manual before cleaning, as different fountains may require different cleaning methods.^{[2]
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- Before you take out the pump, you can connect a hose to it and use it to pump the water out of the fountain into a bucket or outside.
2
Drain the water out of the fountain. For smaller fountains, you can just dump the water out.^{[3]
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Research source} For larger fountains, a shop vac may be easier to remove the water from the fountain.^{[4]
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3
Scrub the fountain. If the fountain is small, it may be easiest to bring it into a sink to clean.^{[5]
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Research source} If it's larger, you'll need to clean it outside. A toothbrush or other soft brush is perfect for this purpose. Use a mild soap such as dishwashing soap or even CLR to clean the fountain.^{[6]
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- If your fountain is copper, make sure you only use a very soft rag on it.
- Keep going until the fountain is clean. If you are having trouble removing algae, you can buy products specifically made for breaking down algae. Consider wiping the fountain down with a mild bleach solution to help keep new growth from happening.
- If you encounter any filters that look dirty, clean or replace them.
- Clean smaller fountains more often (once a month) and larger fountains less often (every other month or so).^{[7]
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4
Clean the pump. In a sink, unscrew the side of the pump that comes off, which should show you the impeller. You can use the same brush you used on the fountain to clean the impeller. Get all the debris out you can, and then replace the pump in the fountain.^{[8]
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5
Descale the fountain. If your fountain has hard water buildup, use a special product to help remove it, such as CLR. You can also use a mixture of half white vinegar, half water. Let the fountain soak in the solution, and then scrub it again with a gentle brush or sponge. Use a dry rag to wipe off any leftover solution before you fill the fountain with new water.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Cleaning a Drinking Fountain

1
See if the water is flowing freely. The water should flow out of the mouthpiece readily, and it should lift up at least 3 inches above the fountain. The height of the stream is important because it keeps people from putting their mouths on the metal part of the fountain.^{[10]
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- Use the valve on the drinking fountain to adjust the rate the water comes out of the mouthpiece.
2
Clean the mouthpiece. Squirt disinfectant on the mouthpiece, as well as the guard that sits over it. Use a brush to clean all around the mouthpiece and guard, including where the water comes out. Once done, use water to rinse the area thoroughly.^{[11]
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3
Wash the rest of the fountain. A damp cloth is generally enough to clean the rest of the fountain's surfaces. Wipe it down thoroughly.^{[12]
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Research source} However, you may want to use some disinfectant on the areas that are most touched, such as the fountain's buttons. Wipe down areas you use disinfectant on with a clean cloth and water.
4
Descale the fountain. Drinking fountains need to be descaled from time to time because of a build up of hard water. Spray the fountain with a descaling solution where the it has hard water buildup, and then scrub it with a cloth soaked in the same solution until the scaling comes off. Wipe it down with clean water when you're done.^{[13]
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