I have two of those pet fountains (Drinkwell) because my original one is in storage in Ontario Canada. (I've been traveling in the US but am about to move into an apartment.) Casper has been dehydrated so I bought him a second one, same kind (Drinkwell). The interesting difference is the one I bought in Canada ($69) had 3 bottle brushes in varying sizes included in the box for cleaning the unit. The one I bought in the US ($49) did not have the cleaning brushes. I saw somewhere where you can purchase the brush kit separately. Here: http://www.thepetstoreonline.com/drinkwell-cleaning-kit---3-brush-set.html ($10)
Here are my tips for cleaning (I post this because I know of several cat owners who hate cleaning so much they allow their pet fountains to get very slimy and clogged with cat hair) :
1. Clean thoroughly at least once a week. In addition, I often will empty, rinse and refill with clean water mid-week. I also add ice cubes during the summer to cool and replenish water. Casper loves it and drinks often which keeps him hydrated.
2. Don't allow the unit to dry out before cleaning. The slime/scum is more easily removed when still wet.
3. After dumping the water out, dry your hands. You need dry hands to grip the motor mechanism, turn it and remove it. It can be a tight fit.
4. Then soak the unit parts - excluding the motor - in warm sudsy water. I do clean the inside of the motor where the magnetized propeller sits: a cotton swab works well.
5. In addition to the bottle brushes, I use a clean toothbrush to get in the corners when the pink stuff is.
6. When I don't have bottle brushes, I use a flat dish scrubber (3M and dollar store brands) and poke it down into the center with a wooden spoon handle or something similar and scrub.
7. For the hard-to-reach corners I've also used toothpicks and I found in the dental aisle a package of tiny, tiny pipe cleaners (Plackers) to use for flossing. (I wish someone would make a fountain with no angles or corners.)
8. I also give Casper Brita-filtered water when I can. That keeps mineral deposits from forming.
9. Filling the unit usually takes a whole Brita jug full of water, which I pour only after I put the unit in place. (I'm too klutzy to carry it filled with water.) Then I plug it in.
I dislike this task, but with the right tools the job gets done faster and I'm less frustrated with it. Less frustration means I'll clean it more often... usually on Sundays.
UPDATE: I tried cleaning it in the top shelf of the dishwasher but that didn't work as well. I've found that cotton swabs are useful for the tiny corners.
Now that I am back in an apartment and have collected my things from storage, I have two units. I use one at a time, and clean the other at my leisure, ready for Sunday exchange. This means Casper doesn't have to wait without flowing water until I get the unit cleaned.
Andrea
