Clean Your Fountain Correctly and It Will Bring You Tranquil Pleasure For Years to Come

The following information will assist you in maintaining the natural beauty of your indoor water fountain and help to ensure that you and your family and visitors to your home enjoy your fountain for many, many years to come.

In fact, you’ll be happy to know that simple, regular wiping is the best way to maintain your fountain’s great looks and that keeping the fountain’s water level at a pre-determined optimal level (this will vary from fountain-to-fountain and be detailed in your fountains set-up instructions) will protect your fountain’s pump and functionality.

I recomend using Fountain Protector to keep that "Just out of the Box" look to your fountain.  Your fountain will look and smell much cleaner and the water will stay clean and clear.

Fountian Cleaning Tips

Keep in mind that different surface finishes materials will require different care.

Glass Fountains: All you need is white vinegar and water. You can also find window or glass prep solutions that will help the water move more fluidly across the glass.

Slate Fountains: You will find that calcium line remover solutions, when applied with a soft bristle brush, does the trick; however, do not scrub your fountain’s slate surfaces excessively as this may damage the slate.

Other Natural Surfaces: You can also use an over-the-counter calcium lime remover substance for cleaning pebbles and even Italian marble. Again, do not scrub harshly and do not use bleach or any other strong solvent as this may damage these materials.

Stainless Steel Fountains: These are naturally resistant to corrosion, are basically maintenance-free. All you have to worry about with stainless steel are the fingerprints, which can quickly and easily removed with a damp sponge or microfiber cloth.

Do not use any coarse or granular products, as these will scratch the stainless steel, as will steel wool or scouring products.

Likewise, any solution with bleach will damage the surface of the stainless steel and also damage your fountain’s pump. You can use a water treatment if your stainless steel fountain develops scale, which should remove it and prevent it from reoccurring.

Copper Fountains: Most of these indoor fountains are available in a powder coating finish or a natural finish (with no preservatives or treatments). The powder coating finish is simply a clear, heat baked finish that prevents oxidation, which is what happens to copper when it is frequently exposed to water and air. The antique greenish tint the oxidation causes is called verdigris. Even powder coating finished fountains will undergo some changes from the oxidation (turning slight rosy color).

While you do not want to ever use a copper cleaner on your indoor water fountain, you can use a household furniture polish on a soft cloth for day-to-day maintenance. If calcium deposits (white spots) appear on the copper, you can use a calcium lime remover solution to clean these off.

Of course, you may also opt to let the copper's natural changes take place, which will vary based on your unique climate, the water used in your fountain, etc.

This process (which produces the verdigris coloring) can be delayed somewhat with the ongoing use a household furniture polish on a soft cloth for daily maintenance. However, you do not want to use copper cleaner, strong solvents, waxes, or calcium lime remover solutions on your naturally finished copper fountains.

Note: Regardless of what your indoor fountain is made from, you will need to make sure any fountain run-off from cleaning (mineral deposits, vinegar, cleaner, etc.) does not drip into the fountain’s water supply.