How to Clean a Birdbath

Make life simpler by choosing a birdbath made of a lightweight material or one with a removable basin or a drain hole. And, remember, the more often you clean a birdbath, the easier cleaning it will be.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Birdbath Misters/drippers
• Fountains
• Garden Hoses And Attachments
• Liquid Bleach
• Scrub Brushes
• Water Sources
• Latex Gloves
• Buckets

1. Empty dirty water out of the birdbath by tipping it to the side.

2. Rinse with a hard spray of water from the hose, or open the drain on the bottom of the birdbath.

3. Add a small amount of water and scrub the birdbath thoroughly with a stiff brush.

4. Make a solution containing bleach (3/4 c. bleach to 1 gal. water) to remove algae that will not come off with scrubbing.

5. Pour the bleach solution into the birdbath and scrub again.

6. Remove the birdbath from the yard or cover it with a piece of wood or plastic and allow the bleach solution to sit for about 15 minutes.

7. Rinse thoroughly.

8. Fill with fresh water.

Tips & Warnings

• Position your birdbath slightly away from thick foliage, from which hiding predators can pounce on wet birds.
• Running water near a birdbath - or a dripper, small fountain or mister - will attract more birds.
• Never put algae-reducing chemicals in a birdbath.
• If you use any solution containing bleach or other chemicals, make sure the birds do not come in contact with it, and avoid getting the solution on your skin or clothes.

[woot]

on 2/11/2009 Great article. I wonder about the anonymous suggestion to put copper pennies in the birdbath. Would this have any bad effect on the birds?

on 11/22/2005 Putting about 5 copper pennies in the birdbath helps keep the algae out.

on 11/22/2005 Let the birdbath dry out thoroughly in the sun until it starts to flake. Then hit it hard with the jet setting on your garden hose. It can get it super clean down to the concrete. Follow with the bleach and water solution.