Think of your bird feeders like a cafeteria or restaurant. Would you want to eat there? Birds can catch and spread diseases from dirty bird feeders and moldy seed. Learn how to clean your bird feeders and how often you should do it.

5 Tips for Keeping Feeders Clean

1. Clean every 2 weeks

   • More often if you live in a damp climate, or during rainy seasons.

2. Use a mild cleaner

   • Mix 1 part bleach with 9 parts water.
   • Substitute vinegar for bleach to prevent damage to wooden feeders.
   • A protein-based cleaner made for birdhouses and feeders that won’t contaminate seed or leave behind chemical residue.

3. Scrub the inside, outside, feeding ports and perches

   • Remove droppings, mold and dirt
   • Brushes designed for scrubbing out feeding ports make the task simpler

4. Let it dry before refilling

   • Damp seed can develop mold quickly which may lead to health problems for birds

5. Clean the ground below the feeder

   • Leftovers can sprout
   • Droppings and discarded seed and shells can harbor bacteria

For more helpful tips, go to Tips.acehardware.com.

Published: 3/5/2020