Can You Put Bleach in a Fountain?

To make sure fountains continue working correctly it's importantly keep them clean. Find out if you can put bleach in water fountains to clean the fountain and the water.

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Question

I would like to keep the germ content down on desktop fountains. How much Clorox would you recommend I add to a gallon of water which would be used to fill the fountains?

Answer

For the desktop fountain situation that you described, I would try the following:

    • You need to make sure desktop fountains are well cleaned. If previously used, consider washing them thoroughly, then running a solution of 2 teaspoons Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach per gallon of water through them for at least 2 minutes.
    • Make sure you only use regular-bleach. Do not use bleach with fragrance or thickened no-splash bleach, which will cause the water in the fountain to foam.
    • For ongoing use, try 1/4 teaspoon Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach added to 1/3 gallon of water (5 + 1/3 cups) of water. This should be sufficient to keep the water fresh. You might want to change it out on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule to insure it maintains it freshness.