How to Clean a Cat Water Fountain: PETKIT & Gardner Steps

The short answer

To clean a cat water fountain, unplug it and take apart the water-path parts: tray, filter, filter holder, outlet pipe, and pump. Brush and rinse them in clean water with a small pump or bottle brush and a soft sponge, not an abrasive scourer. Wipe the powered base with a dry or slightly damp cloth only, then reassemble and refill to the MAX line. Makers’ schedules point to a full take-apart clean about once a week, and PETKIT’s replacement-pump listing says to clean the wireless pump at least every two weeks. PETKIT Solo SE and 3 Pro parts are not dishwasher safe, and the cited PETKIT sources don’t name a cleaning product.

Filters follow their own replacement schedule, shown per maker below:

A simple routine that fits all of these: rinse at every refill, full take-apart clean weekly, pump clean at least every two weeks, filters on the maker’s schedule.

This guide is based on PETKIT manuals and product pages, PETKIT’s official cleaning video, a PETKIT distributor’s guide, and the Amazon listings for each fountain, checked Oct 20, 2026. We have not cleaned or tested these fountains ourselves. Where your printed manual disagrees with anything here, follow the manual.

What you need

PETKIT Australia, an official PETKIT distributor, lists a short kit:

• a small pump-cleaning brush or narrow bottle brush for the outlet pipe and pump chamber
• a soft sponge
• clean water
• a dry or slightly damp cloth for the base
• a small bowl to hold the pump’s tiny parts
• tweezers, if your pump’s impeller is hard to grip

It also warns against abrasive scourers that could scratch parts. The PETKIT sources cited here describe cleaning with water and a brush. They do not name a cleaning product, so if you want to use one, check with the manufacturer first and rinse thoroughly.

How to clean a PETKIT EverSweet fountain (Solo SE, 3 Pro, and other wireless-pump models)

The Solo SE manual names the parts from top to bottom: drinking tray, filter, filter tray, outlet pipe, wireless pump, main body (the tank), and main body base with the indicator light. The 3 Pro uses the same layout with a 304 stainless steel tank. Neither printed manual includes written cleaning steps. Both point to a QR-code video instead. The steps below follow PETKIT’s official EverSweet Max cleaning video and PETKIT Australia’s pump-cleaning guide, which cover the same wireless pump. The Amazon listing for the replacement pump (B0B2DM5Q7N) names the Max, 3 Pro, Solo 2, and Solo SE as using it.

1. Unplug and lift the tank off the base

Disconnect the USB cable. On wireless-pump models, the tank lifts straight off the powered base, so no cable goes near the sink. The base contains the electronics. PETKIT’s manuals for both the Solo SE and 3 Pro say do not immerse or soak the main body base in water, and the Solo SE listing adds that the metal contacts under the tank should stay dry.

2. Empty the tank and take off the top parts

Pour out the old water. Remove the drinking tray, then the filter and the filter tray. If the filter is still within its replacement window, set it aside on a clean surface. Do not scrub or wash it with hot water.

3. Lift out the outlet pipe and pump

Pull the outlet pipe off the pump, then lift the pump out of its groove in the tank. Handle the pump gently. The EverSweet Max manual warns that dropping the pump can break its internal ceramic shaft.

4. Take the pump apart

In PETKIT’s official video, the order is:

1. Remove the foam filter from the pump inlet.
2. Remove the pump’s front cover.
3. Remove the impeller cover.
4. Use tweezers to lift out the impeller.

Hair wrapped around the impeller and residue inside the chamber are what slow the flow. PETKIT Australia notes that this buildup can make the pump louder or stop it working properly.

5. Clean each part

• Impeller, covers, and pump body: brush gently and rinse.
• Foam filter: PETKIT’s video says to gently rub it clean. If it is matted or falling apart, replace it. The PETKIT foam 15-pack (B0B24ZXBG7) is listed on the replacement pump listing’s parts table.
• Outlet pipe: run the narrow brush through it. This is easy to forget, and residue inside it restricts flow.
• Tank, filter tray, and drinking tray: wash with a soft sponge and clean water. On the 3 Pro, PETKIT says to clean the stainless steel parts before first use as well.
• Base: wipe with a dry or slightly damp cloth only.

PETKIT’s product page FAQ for both the Solo SE and the 3 Pro says no parts are dishwasher safe. PETKIT does list dishwasher-safe parts for some other fountains, and the EverSweet Max 2 (Cordless) manual describes heat-resistant parts with dishwasher and boiling-water options. Those instructions belong to that model only. Do not carry them over to a Solo SE or 3 Pro.

6. Reassemble in reverse

Put the impeller, impeller cover, front cover, and foam filter back on the pump. Push the outlet pipe into the pump’s water outlet, then seat the pump squarely in its groove. Add the filter tray, the filter, and the drinking tray. Fill with drinking water to the MAX line and set the tank back on the base.

7. Plug in and watch it run

The flow should start within a moment. If the fountain sits silent or only trickles, the usual causes after a clean are a pump that is not seated in its groove, a loose outlet pipe, an impeller put back the wrong way, or trapped air. Our cat water fountain not pumping water checklist goes through those in order. On the 3 Pro, remember that smart mode pauses on purpose: the manual’s default is 3 minutes on, 3 minutes off.

When to change the filter while you are at it

Cleaning and filter changes run on separate clocks, so do not replace the cartridge at every wash. PETKIT’s product pages suggest replacing the filter about every 4 weeks. Its manuals and Filter Unit 3.0 pages give about 30 days in normal mode and 60 days in smart mode, with the filter light as the tie-breaker. The Solo SE listing says 2–4 weeks.

If a change is due, soak the new cartridge before installing it. On the 3 Pro, complete the filter reset in the app afterwards. The full schedule, soak timing, and reset steps are in how often to change a PETKIT fountain filter.

How to clean a Gardner Pet fountain

Gardner Pet publishes far less cleaning detail than PETKIT. No official Gardner Pet website was reachable when we researched these models, and neither Amazon listing includes a downloadable manual. Use the printed manual that came in the box for the exact take-apart order. Here is what the listings do say.

Gardner Pet Cordless 3.8 L

The Gardner Pet cordless fountain has a built-in 5,000 mAh battery, and its listing names a “master control module” among the included parts. The listing’s directions are short and specific:

• The battery module cannot be immersed in water. Remove it, or keep it well away from the sink, before you rinse anything.
• Store the pump in a dry place when it is not in use.
• Soak a new filter for 5 minutes before use, then rinse it for 30 seconds.
• Replace the filter about once a month.

The listing also says the fountain can be assembled and taken apart in a few minutes. The stainless steel drinking tray can be scrubbed like any steel dish. Treat the tank, filter housing, and pump the same way as on a PETKIT: take them apart, brush, rinse, and reassemble.

Gardner Pet Vortex 1-gallon

The Gardner Pet Vortex review covers a USB-powered polypropylene fountain. Its brand FAQ says the tank, tray, and pump come apart easily for rinsing, and recommends cleaning weekly and replacing filters monthly. The listing also notes that the splash guard sits inside the water bowl, so take it out and clean it with the tray. Unplug the USB cable first.

When we checked on Oct 20, 2026, Amazon showed the Vortex as currently unavailable. If you are deciding between the two, the cordless vs Vortex comparison covers power, flow, and upkeep.

Signs the fountain is overdue for a clean

You do not need to wait for these, but they are a clear prompt:

• visible residue or a slippery film on the tray or tank walls
• hair collected at the pump inlet or around the foam filter
• weaker flow, or flow that stops and starts with no mode reason
• a pump that sounds louder than usual (PETKIT Australia lists hair in the impeller chamber, low water, and trapped air as common causes)
• a filter light or app reminder

In hard-water areas, white mineral scale can also build up on the impeller. PETKIT’s own documents cited here do not give a descaling method. The third-party approach we found is covered, with its caveats, in the not-pumping guide.

A routine you can keep

1. Every refill: pour out what is left, rinse the tank and tray, and check the foam for hair.
2. Weekly: full take-apart clean of the tray, tank, filter tray, and outlet pipe. On a PETKIT Solo SE, include the pump, as its listing advises.
3. At least every two weeks: open the pump and clean the impeller, as the PETKIT replacement pump listing recommends.
4. Monthly or per indicator: replace the main filter on your model’s schedule. Change the foam about every 1–2 months, per the foam pack listing.
5. Always: keep the base, battery module, and contacts dry, and keep the tank between the MIN and MAX lines.

Placement helps too. A fountain set right beside the food bowl tends to collect kibble crumbs in the tray and pump. A short gap between bowl and fountain cuts down on that.

Choosing a fountain that is easier to clean

If you are still shopping, cleaning effort is a fair way to separate models. A tank that lifts off a powered base (PETKIT’s wireless-pump design) keeps the cable out of the sink. A stainless drinking surface, as on the Gardner Cordless tray or the 3 Pro tank, is easier to scrub than textured plastic. And fewer, larger parts usually mean the fountain gets cleaned more often. Our guide to choosing a cat water fountain puts cleaning alongside power and capacity, and the Gardner Pet fountain vs PETKIT EverSweet comparison compares these specific models.

What this guide does not claim

• We have not cleaned, taken apart, or tested any of these fountains. The steps are a summary of manufacturer and distributor material.
• The pump take-apart order comes from PETKIT’s EverSweet Max video. The 3 Pro and Solo SE use the same listed replacement pump, but small details may differ by model and revision.
• Gardner Pet steps are limited to what the Amazon listings state.
• We make no claims about water quality or pet health. Cleaning keeps the fountain working as designed. It is not a substitute for advice from your vet.

Related pages

• Filter schedule and reset: how often to change a PETKIT fountain filter
• Fountain stopped after cleaning: cat water fountain not pumping water
• Gardner Pet models: cordless review, Vortex review, cordless vs Vortex
• Buying framework: how to choose a cat water fountain