If your cat’s or dog’s water fountain has gone cloudy or slimy, clean all of it, not just the bowl. The pump, the filter and the film along the waterline each need their own attention. Start by unplugging the fountain, then follow the cleaning steps in your maker’s manual for each part, because the manual names what comes apart and what can be washed.
How do I clean a pet water fountain step by step?
Work through the fountain in this order, and let the maker’s manual override any step it describes differently.
- Unplug the fountain and empty the bowl.
- Take out the filter and any removable parts the manual says come off.
- Wash the bowl and removable parts with a mild soap and water, and wipe the film off the sides and the waterline.
- Rinse everything well with clean water so no soap is left behind.
- Let the parts air-dry fully, reassemble them as the manual shows, and refill with fresh water.
The CDC’s written method for washing a container is soap, a full rinse, then drying, and it is written for emergency water-storage containers. Use it as a picture of the basic routine, not as the cleaning instructions for your fountain.
Can I use bleach to clean a pet fountain?
The bleach instructions you’ll find online come from guidance written for other jobs. The CDC’s emergency water supply guide gives a bleach method for sanitizing emergency water-storage containers, and it does not cover pet fountains. The Ready.gov water guide uses bleach to treat drinking water and to sanitize storage bottles. Neither source covers pet bowls, pumps or filters.
So don’t bleach the fountain unless its manual says to. If you want a sanitizer for your pet’s water equipment, ask your veterinarian which one is safe to use around your pet.
How do I clean the pump and filter?
Keep the motor and any cord or plug dry, and never submerge the motor housing unless the manual says the part is waterproof. Clean the pump and filter as your fountain’s manual describes, because the manual gives the filter type and how often to replace it for your model. For a short guide to cleaning electrical parts without damage, see clean and sanitize your electronics without damaging them.
Can I just clean the fountain with vinegar?
Check the maker’s manual for which cleaners it allows. If the manual doesn’t say, ask your veterinarian before using vinegar or any other cleaner near your pet’s water.
How do I keep my pet’s water clean between cleanings?
Refill with fresh water instead of topping off old water. Wipe the film from the sides and waterline each time you refill. Keep a regular bowl of fresh water out as a backup, so your pet still has water if the fountain stops or needs cleaning.
For backup water, the Island County water storage guide counts pets in its calculation: multiply the animal’s weight in pounds by 0.01 and add that to the gallons per day for people. A 35-pound dog comes to 0.35 gallons per day in that example. If you store extra water, the CDC says to replace stored water every six months.
Which pet fountain is easiest to clean?
Look for a fountain where the pump and filter come out easily and the bowl is simple to reach. A model with fewer hidden parts is quicker to wash every time.
If a listing calls a fountain “self-cleaning,” that is the seller’s own description. Ask the seller what that claim covers, and check the manual for what you still clean by hand.
Does this apply to pet water bottles and dispensers?
Wash and rinse them, then check the maker’s instructions for which parts can be cleaned and how to dry them before refilling. The CDC’s bleach method is written for emergency water-storage containers, so don’t assume it applies to a pet bottle or dispenser. If your pet is wary of the sound a new pump makes, the pet grooming tool noise guide covers how to help a pet get used to new noise.
Before you buy a pet water fountain
- Check how the pump and filter come out, and whether you can reach the bowl.
- Look up the replacement filter price and how often the maker says to replace it.
- Ask what the “self-cleaning” claim covers, if the listing makes one.
- Check today’s price, bundle and shipping terms directly with the maker, since they change.
By HomeRemodelingAndRepairs.net Home Research & Editorial Team