How To Guide: Cleaning Your Water Feature For Spring
If you already have a water feature, you’ll probably know that it’s advisable to empty your feature, wrap it up nice and snug, and put it away for the winter months. But what’s the best way to bring it back to life once hibernation season is over? Let us show you!
Removing Your Fountain Protection Cover
First thing’s first, let’s remove the fountain protection cover from the feature. Our covers come with a handy drawstring, so you can put the feature inside the cover where it will act as a draw string bag, or you can place the cover over the feature like a hood, ease it down over the fountain and fasten it up tightly using the drawstring to secure your feature. When it comes to removing the cover, simply slide the drawstring loose and fan out the entrance to the cover with your hands so the opening is as wide as can be. Next, get your hands inside the cover and gently ease it off the fountain, taking it an inch at a time so that you remove it evenly on all sides.
Time to Tackle the Debris
Over the winter months, dust or debris may have accumulated in the feature, so it’s important to eliminate this before setting your fountain back up. Carefully dust off your feature and remove any debris using a soft brush or a microfibre cloth or duster. If you prefer, you can also remove the dust by using the hose attachment on your vacuum or a hand-held vacuum cleaner.
Dirt, Dirt and More Dirt…
Your feature might have some dirt or mud that has dried and hardened since you last enjoyed it. Don’t fret, there’s a simple solution and we’ve got the answer! All you’ll need is a soft cloth or sponge, some warm water and small amount of dish soap. We like Fairy Liquid best, but you can use another washing up liquid brand if you prefer. Just be careful to make sure it’s nice and gentle on any paintwork.
First of all, you’ll need to soften the dirt or mud with the warm water. Simply wet your cloth with warm water, then press and hold it to the area you’re wanting to clean. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it will help you in the long run! Once you can see that the mud has visibly softened (it’ll be slightly darker and have a tacky texture), apply a small amount of washing up liquid to your cloth and gently buff the area until the soap foams up. Once all the visible dirt has been banished, give your feature a wipe down to rinse it off with some clean water. Hey presto – suds and mud be gone!
Prevention is Better than the Cure!
To maintain your feature we recommend a water treatment. These are excellent to help prevent green water and algae, keep your water clean and clear and break up debris that may fall into the fountain. We’ve rounded up a few of our favourites below so you don’t have to!
This liquid solution is fantastic as it doesn’t affect the pH level of your water, meaning that the water’s natural balance isn’t disturbed. This makes it super safe for pets, children, birds and wildlife who might have contact with or drink from the fountain. That’s one less thing for you to worry about! Our bottles come with an integrated measuring compartment so you can add the same amount each time. What’s even more amazing is that one bottle will last your approximately 40 weeks! Fountain Fresh to the rescue!
This powder is a saviour if you start to notice the initial signs of algae or green water appearing. Simply add one heaped tablespoon for every 5 litres of water in your fountain and notice immediate results. Now sit back and relax for 48 hours and, as if by magic, your water fountain will be clear! We don’t recommend using the Ultimate Fountain Fresh around pets, wildlife, birds or children as it’s not safe for them. Once your water is clear, simply treat your fountain every fortnight. It’s not an exact science, so if you feel a heaped tablespoon isn’t enough or that it needs a little extra cleaning, feel free to add more or treat your feature more regularly.
This is another powder that provides almost instant results. It will eliminate common algae, clear green water away, disinfect and clean your feature. As well as all this, the Natural Aqua Fountain Fresh is totally safe for fish, pets, children and wildlife. All the ingredients are naturally derived, meaning no harsh chemicals! Simply take one heaped tablespoon per 5 litres of water, throw it in your fountain and wait for 48 hours for your feature to shine!
Stainless Steel Water Feature Cleaner:
If you’re looking to make your stainless steel sparkle and shine, we’ve got the perfect product that’s ready for the task! Forget hours of polishing, simply add a cap full of our stainless steel cleaner to your water and it will do all the work for you! The bottle comes with its own measuring cup and is safe for wildlife, fish and pets, but doesn’t scrimp when it comes to killing bacteria! Simply fill the cup to the brim and pour directly into your feature - repeat as necessary.
We hope our how to guide has given you some handy tips for bringing your feature out for the spring and giving your fountain the tender love and care it deserves!
