Bird Bath Cleaning and Maintenance

Keeping your bird bath clean and healthy

Installing a bird bath is a great way to attract many species of birds to your yard or garden. But without regular bird bath cleaning and maintenance, your bird bath will quickly become overrun with algae and debris and the birds will find somewhere else to bathe and drink.

Regular schedule

Regular and frequent bird bath cleaning and maintenance will ensure that birds do not avoid your bird bath because it is soiled and unwelcoming. Essential for the health of your feathered visitors, bird bath cleaning and maintenance helps prevent algae growth and the spread of disease.

A clean bird bath also cuts down on the chances that West Nile-carrying mosquitoes will use your bird bath as a breeding ground.

In addition to health and safety concerns, it is important to practice regular bird bath cleaning and maintenance to keep your bird bath free of feathers, droppings, leaves, and other unsightly litter.

The procedure

The best way to tackle bird bath cleaning and maintenance is to do it often, never allowing the mess to get too out of control. The more often you perform bird bath cleaning and maintenance, the easier that cleaning will be. Bird bath cleaning and maintenance done on a daily or semi-daily basis is recommended.

Most often, refilling the bowl with fresh water is all the bird bath cleaning and maintenance you'll need to do. Pay attention to water levels, especially in summer, when evaporation causes a sharp decline in water supply.

For soiled bird baths, more thorough bird bath cleaning and maintenance every three days or so is in order. Use the following bird bath cleaning and maintenance steps to maintain a clean and inviting backyard sanctuary.

Steps

Drain. Drain the water from the bird bath.

Scrub. Scrub the bird bath with a stiff brush and fresh water. If the bird bath is especially dirty, use a mild detergent or bird bath cleaner.

Never add harsh chemicals or bleach, and be sure to rinse out the bowl thoroughly after cleaning, as birds are extremely sensitive to detergents.

Refill. After you've cleaned the bird bath, refill with a fresh supply of clean water. 

In order to make your backyard bird bath as useful as possible, regular and frequent bird bath cleaning and maintenance is crucial. Bird bath cleaning and maintenance done every day will prevent disease spread among birds and make your yard a more beautiful place.

More information on bird baths