Indoor water fountains are not only gorgeous to look at, but they also add a calming and peaceful element to the environment of a home or office. From the soothing sounds of the running water to the overall beauty of an indoor water fountain, they can be a real asset in a home for years to come. However, one thing that can ruin the beauty of an indoor water fountain is the growth of unsightly algae and mineral deposits. So, how do you keep your indoor water feature clean and beautiful? Bonsai World LLC can help!
How Do You Disinfect an Indoor Water Fountain?
There are several steps you need to follow to keep your indoor water fountain looking gorgeous and healthy at all times.
First, you need to use distilled water in your water feature. This is because minerals and impurities are already removed when distilling water, which means they cannot collect as quickly on the surface of your indoor water fountain. This also means they won't collect on the tray of your water fountain. Distilled water works much better than soft water or osmosis water. Do not use tap water if it can be avoided because it contains various pollutants and minerals. These include chlorine, lead, calcium, potassium, lithium, sodium, and manganese. The fun fact is that distilled water can be purchased easily and affordably at the store, or you can purchase a water distiller to put on the faucet at your home or office. They are easy to use and work quickly to provide you with all the distilled water you need when you need it.
You should remember always to treat any algae growth right away. If you see that algae are starting to grow in the tray of your water fountain, you should treat it before it builds up and gets out of hand. You can clean the areas that have algae growth with regular household bleach. Add one or two drops of bleach twice a month to the water in your water fountain feature tray. This tiny amount will not bleach out the stone you have in your water feature, and it will not give off a heavy chlorine bleach smell, but it will be enough to prevent algae growth.
You should clean the water surface and tray every three to four months, especially if you are not using distilled water. This is because the wall water fountain may need to be cleaned more often.
It is important to clean the water's surface. If the water surface is made of glass or is a mirror, you can use a standard glass cleaner. If you see mineral deposits on the glass or mirror, you can use a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and glass cleaner. This will clean the glass very well but be sure to rinse the cleaner off when you are finished. If there is a logo, you should not clean it with vinegar and window cleaner solution.
If you are cleaning a wall waterfall made of marble, slate, or Featherstone, it must be cleaned with a stiff nylon brush. Do not use the brush on any logos since it can remove the paint. If you have a lot of mineral buildup, you can use a stronger cleaning agent in those areas but be sure to rinse it off well when you are finished.
You should always remember to clean the tray after cleaning the water surface. This will help eliminate any cleaning solutions you may have rinsed into the tray while cleaning other areas. Make sure you remove the water first with a wet-dry vacuum, or you can use a bucket or a cup. Once almost all the water is removed, you can lift the tray off the wall and pour the remaining water into a nearby sink. Thoroughly wipe out the tray with a soft cloth and use cleaner if necessary, then rinse it very well before replacing it in your water feature.
You should clean the hood and tray of your water feature by wiping them down with a damp cloth. It is important not to use any abrasive cleaners or cleaning tools on the metal finish because it scratches easily.
If you take apart the tray to clean it, reassemble it and then fill it with your distilled water supply.
Clean the Pump Too
Be sure to clean the pump of your indoor water feature during the cleaning process. Even if you have been adding a tiny bit of vinegar to your indoor water fountain periodically, you should still clean the pump regularly. This is because a layer of grime can form over the pump after several months or years of use and cause it to malfunction. Be sure to turn the fountain off and follow the instructions with your pump so you can clean it safely and correctly.