Luckily, the approach is simple — much like it is for a bird bath.
How to wash rocks. If stains, dirt or grit still remain on the rocks, apply denture cleaner or a paste made from baking soda and. Put down your shovel and check this out! How to wash river rocks for a small landscape bed.
To completely clean algae off of your lava rocks, mix a 1:1 ratio of bleach and water into a spray bottle. Fill up a clean container using 5 parts water to 1 part hydrogen peroxide. Unless the stone is calcite, the reaction can quickly become apparent.
If you are looking for an affordable way to clean up those rocks you find along the way, and even some gem stones, you are in the right place. Landscape round stones are installed before mulch is put down to keep stones clean. If you do not have a paper towel at home, use a newspaper to soak the excess water.
First, put the rock in a bucket and put in enough clean water (from the hose, not the river) to cover them. Use plain water and rinse the area well when finished. If you have lava rock in the aquarium, then use a paper towel to dry it off.
Add 1/4 cup of bleach and stir. Stir and swirl the rocks to loosen any. Go through the cleaning phase, thoroughly scrubbing any dirt/debris off of your rocks.
There are a variety of tools and techniques you can use to clean your rocks. One way to check calcium carbonate content on rock is to splash with vinegar. Power wash medium to large landscape rocks.