A watering can is difficult to clean because you simply cannot get into the narrow opening. So what can you do if your watering can has brown, green or white deposits? With the right tools it can be easily cleaned. Find out how to do it below.
How to clean a watering can?
To clean a dirty watering can, you can use sand, baking soda or vinegar. Fill the chosen cleaning agent into the watering can, shake or let it work and then rinse thoroughly. Regular drying prevents algae infestation and contamination.
Why clean the watering can?
Over time, different deposits can settle in the watering can: White deposits are usually lime, green or brown-green deposits are almost always algae.
The difference between the two deposits is not just the color, but above all the consistency. Algae are more like a veil and wave, while lime forms a hard, solid crust. Neither is harmful to plants, but of course looks unsightly in the watering can.
Where does the white coating come from?
Limescale deposits come from hard water. Many plants don't like hard water, so if you have a layer of lime in your watering can, you should think about watering your plants with other water, preferably rainwater.
Where does the green coating come from?
Algae form where there are nutrients. Have you added fertilizer to your watering can and then used it to fertilize your plants? If you didn't want algae in your watering can, you should use a different container for fertilizing in the future.
The best home remedies for cleaning the watering can
Various home remedies can be used to clean the watering can:
- Sand (only for algae)
- Baking powder
- Vinegar
Clean watering can with sand
Put two generous handfuls of sand into the watering can and add enough water so that the sand layer is just submerged. Now it gets fun: Shake the watering can in all directions as you like so that the sand scrubs away the algae and impurities in the watering can. Of course, make sure that nothing runs out of the top.
Clean watering can with baking soda
Baking soda helps against both algae and limescale deposits. Add two bags of baking soda to the watering can and fill with hot water. The contaminated areas should be completely submerged in water. Leave the mixture to work for at least 24 hours.
Clean watering can with vinegar
Dilute the vinegar 1 to 1 with water and pour the mixture into the watering can. Leave the product on for 24 to 48 hours. Helps against algae and limescale.
Tip
Empty your watering can completely every now and then and let it dry out properly. This also causes algae infestation and contamination.