How to Clean a Hummingbird Feeder With Vinegar

Hummingbirds will not eat out of a feeder that is dirty, clogged with debris or moldy. If you want to keep the company of these adorable and fascinating tiny creatures, you need to keep their food container squeaky clean at all times.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Full-strength white vinegar
• Bottle brush

Instructions

1. Remove the top of the feeder, and pour out any remaining food. If the food is clean and does not contain debris, you may save it to put back into the feeder after cleaning.

2. Thoroughly rinse the feeder with warm water, using a bottle brush to scrub away any debris, mildew or mold spots inside the container.

3. Create a solution of 1/4 cup full-strength white vinegar and one gallon of hot water.

4. Shake the solution well to mix it.

5. Pour the solution into the feeder, scrub the feeder with the bottle brush, and rinse.

6. Fill the feeder once more with the vinegar and water solution, and allow it to stand for one hour before rinsing and filling the feeder with food.

Tips & Warnings

• Rinse your hummingbird feeder with warm water daily to prevent a build-up of debris and mildew. Use the vinegar cleaning solution once a month as an alternative to bleach, which may cause a breakdown of dangerous chemicals in plastic feeders.

• Never use soap to clean a hummingbird feeder. Your hummingbirds will not eat out of a feeder that has been cleaned with soap, as they do not like the taste. Always remove your hummingbird feeder prior to cold weather. Hummingbirds will not migrate south if they have a readily available food source nearby. If you feed them in the winter, they may die from cold or lack of supplementary nutrients.

References

• Hummingbird Feeders