How to Clean Hummingbird Feeders

Hummingbirds are a delight to watch as they buzz quickly around your garden and yard. Hummingbird feeders are very popular additions to most homes during the summer and fall. But often, the hummingbird nectar, which is made mostly of sugar, will become stagnant and grow mold after extended periods of time. Other times, an invasion of ants will make their way into a hummingbird feeder and contaminate the nectar. Although hummingbird feeders are notoriously hard to clean do to their odd shape, it's really not hard if you know the right technique. Here is how to clean hummingbird feeders easily.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hummingbird feeder
• Bottle brush

1. Get into the habit of cleaning your hummingbird feeder regularly. It should be cleaned every time you refill the nectar and at least once per month. Regular cleaning will prevent the growth of mold and other substances that are hard to remove.

2. Rinse off your hummingbird feeder with hot water or spray it off with a garden hose. This is to remove most of the lose dirt, debris and dead ants.

3. Place both pieces of the hummingbird feeder in the lower basket of your dishwasher.

4. If your hummingbird feeder is especially dirty, or has mold on it, you need to soak it in a bleach solution. Do this by combining about 1 gallon of water with 1 cup of bleach. Let the feeder soak for 20 to 30 minutes, longer if mold exists. A bottle brush is helpful here for reaching the very bottom of the glass.

5. You can also soak the hummingbird feeder in a mixture of 1 gallon of water to one cup of vinegar. Soak for 20 to 30 minutes.

6. Make sure to rinse your hummingbird feeder well with plain water before filling. This is true even if you run it through the dishwasher. You want to remove any soap residue before filling with nectar.