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Cleaning Bird Baths

A Bird Guide to Care and Cleaning

Cleaning products are available for bird bath care on this page.

Cleaning bird baths can be quick and easy if you take the time to consider what a bird bath is made of before you purchase. They are made out of many different materials. So it is important question to ask before buying a bath: Will it be easy to clean?

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Some materials that water baths are made of are hard to clean, such as concrete and some plastics.

These materials are porous and absorb stains.

It has been difficult to impossible, in the past to keep them clean.

It is easier to keep baths clean now because of the newer products available on the market.

They clean better and can be added to the water to keep it fresher, longer.

These products also prevent concrete and plastic baths from staining.

Many of the newer products for bird bath care are environmentally friendly, natural enzymes.

The enzymes will not harm wild birds when they drink the water and are actually good for the ecology.

Resin, glazed ceramic, glass and metal baths are relatively easy to clean because of their harder surface.

cement bird bathCement Makes Cleaning Bird Baths Difficult

The material itself is either too dense to allow for anything to be absorbed, or the finish, as in the case of glazed ceramic, prevents substances from penetrating into the material.

But cement and some resins may absorb stains and make it difficult to keep the water safe for birds to consume.

That is where natural enzyme cleaners are very helpful.



Bird Bath Cleaners ~ My Top Reviewed Picks

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Birdbath Cleaning Brush

Carefree 95888 Birdbath Protector, 8-Ounce

Washing Brush with Bird Droppings Scraper

Here is a larger selection of bird bath cleaning products.



Why Is It Important To Keep A Bird Bath Clean?

There are some options for keeping the water fresh and clean. But there is no choice involved whether to clean it, or not to clean it.

Like bird feeders, once a person decides to take up the activity, keeping things clean is a must!

The reasons are obvious and simple. Water baths are regularly contaminated with bird droppings, feathers, algae, dust and dirt blown in from around the yard.

Dirty bath water and bird feeders cause wild birds to contract disease, leading to sickness or even  death.

As well bird baths left standing too long with stagnant water could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying West Nile disease and other sickness.



Clean Bird Baths often & well to keep it safe for birds.


Methods For Cleaning Bird Baths:

  • Mix a solution of white vinegar (1 part) and water (4 parts). After rinsing the bath out, pour the white vinegar and water solution in the bath and let it soak for 15 minutes.
  • Buy a water bath cleaning product. There are products that contain natural enzymes, are safe for the environment and as I mentioned earlier safe for birds to drink.
  • A weak bleach and water solution can be used.
  • With your choice of cleaner use a brush to scrub out the water reservoir well.
cleaning brushes clipartCleaning Brushes Are Necessary
  • Always rinse thoroughly.
  • There are some excellent products available that can be added to clean bath water to keep it fresher longer. They are again natural enzymes that are environmentally friendly and can keep a bath fresh, some users suggest, up to a month!
  • There are products on the market called wigglers, which can be inserted into the water bath to keep the surface of the water agitated enough to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Drippers and misters may also serve this purpose.

However this does not replace the need to clean the water bath regularly. Natural enzymes, wigglers, drippers and misters just put off the need for caring for your bird bath a little longer.



How Frequently Should Bird Baths Be Cleaned?

  • the number of birds using the bath each day
  • a source of water movement will decrease the frequency need for cleaning
  • adding store bought products to keep the water fresh longer
  • the amount of sun the bath receives
  • but even a water bath in the shade during the heat of summer will need cleaning more often
  • a water bath will also need regular cleaning in the winter
  • how much rain water has been added

With some guidance on cleaning bird baths (and some elbow grease), you can make watching feathered friends in your backyard safe for wild birds and enjoyable for us!





More Info On Types of Bird Bathing Habits Below & In the Right Column

  • Dust Baths, sun bathing and "anting" may seem like odd practices to humans, but we actually practice activities for the very same purposes.
  • Cleaning Bird Baths on a regular schedule is very necessary for wild bird health and enjoyment.
  • Heated Bird Baths are a wonderful way to provide water for wild birds in winter in areas where the temperatures reach the freezing mark.
  • Bird Bathing Info A bath for birds also provides a basic need for the wild birds too and that is water to drink to sustain their lives.


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