There are certainly nicer things to do with gardening, but cleaning the rain barrel is also part of it. After all, you want to benefit from clean water. In addition, it is certainly in your interest to maintain longevity with regular cleaning. The means that you use are particularly important for this. Find out on this page which technique does not take long to clean the water butt.
The best time for cleaning is after the hibernation
Appropriate time
- In the spring before assembly
- Just before the onset of winter when you empty your bin
- When the water level is low due to the lack of precipitation on hot days
manual
Cleaning supplies and tools:
- cold clear water
- a brush
- a landing net
- a street broom
- a high-pressure cleaner
Note: The use of the items mentioned depends on the degree of soiling. You can borrow a high-pressure cleaner (€119.90) from a hardware store. Chemicals should be avoided entirely.
method
- Switch off the pump and the domestic waterworks.
- Remove coarse leaves, algae or other dirt by hand or with the net.
- Drain off enough water until the water level is about 40 cm.
- Use the water dirt pump to suck up the sunken sedimentary rock on the ground.
- Scrub the interior walls.
- For stubborn deposits, add some washing-up liquid to the cleaning water.
- Then rinse the rain barrel well.
tips
A lid saves you a lot of work when cleaning because it prevents leaves from falling into the bin.
Detergent against mosquito larvae?
Many rain barrels (€53.99) offer breeding mosquitoes a wonderful nesting place. Many gardeners tackle the insects with washing-up liquid. Although the home remedy proves to be promising in the fight against the larvae, it also has two disadvantages:
- The water starts to stink.
- Unsightly stains form on the edge.
Therefore, rinse your water butt thoroughly after using detergent.