How to Clean a Bird Feeder

Mold, mildew and bird droppings can accumulate on the bird feeder. Decomposing bird seed can be harmful to birds. Make a habit of cleaning out the bird feeder regularly and restocking it with fresh seed.

• Every two weeks or so, bring your bird feeder in from outside. Empty out any leftover bird seed and throw it away. Old seed can make birds sick.
• Put the feeder in the kitchen sink and take it apart. Working in the sink makes the cleaning a bird feeder easier. Start disassembling it in the kitchen sink so you can give it a proper cleaning.
• Wear gloves while taking apart and cleaning the bird feeder.
• Make sure you have access to both the inside and the outside of the bird feeder. Bird feeders are designed to be cleaned, so this process should be fast and easy.

Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean the bird feeder. Traces of those chemicals left behind in the feeder could be harmful to birds.

• Fill the sink with hot water and a drop of liquid dish soap.
• Use a sponge or a soft nylon brush to scrub the inside of the bird feeder. Clean all the crevices carefully. A bottle brush or old toothbrush can help you get to all the nooks and crannies.
• Then scrub the outside of the feeder, paying special attention to any hard-to-reach places.

If the bird feeder is especially dirty, use a combination of hot water and bleach. However, the bleach should be heavily diluted with water.

• Use a ratio of one-part bleach to 10-parts of water. So if you use a tablespoon of bleach, you would use 10 tablespoons of water. For easier measuring, 10 tablespoons is equal to half a cup, plus two tablespoons.
• With this stronger solution, clean the inside and outside of the bird feeder again.

Cleaning a hummingbird feeder requires a different approach. Instead of being filled with birdseed, hummingbird feeders hold a sugar water mix that mimics flower nectar.

• You’ll need to access a hummingbird feeder often to clean and refill it. Hang it somewhere that makes it easy for you to take it down and put it up.
• Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned every four or five days to prevent mold and mildew.
• Bring the hummingbird feeder inside. Empty any leftover liquid into the sink.
• Take the pieces of the feeder apart.
• Because hummingbirds are more delicate than most birds, use only hot water and a brush to clean the feeder. Don’t add soap or other cleaning agents to the water.
• If there is a buildup of dried nectar or other debris on the feeder, you can use a mild solution of hot water and bleach. Make the solution with one part bleach and 10 parts water.
  Rinse the feeder thoroughly with plain water after cleaning.

Once the bird feeder is clean, rinse it thoroughly. Give it time to dry fully.

• When the bird feeder is completely dry, fill it back up with fresh bird seed. Then put the bird feeder back together.
• Don’t refill the bird feeder while it’s damp because it causes the bird seed to swell and decompose faster. As a good rule of thumb, let the bird feeder dry on the counter overnight before refilling it, especially if it's a wooden bird feeder.
• Hang the bird feeder outside and enjoy it. After about two weeks, bring it in to clean again.

As you develop a bird feeder cleaning routine, you can monitor how much the birds are eating. When you refill the feeder, provide only the amount of food they can consume during the time between cleanings.

While cleaning the bird feeder will help keep birds healthy, you should also clean the area below it. Not only can the combination of spoiled seeds and droppings make squirrels and birds sick, but it will also attract rodents to your yard.

• As your bird feeder is drying, go outside and use a garden trowel to scoop up any old bird food and droppings.
• Place everything you scoop in a garbage bag and dispose of it.

Note: If you want to feed the birds without attracting all the local squirrels, place a squirrel guard on the pole below the bird feeder. The guard will help prevent other animals from climbing the pole or tree trunk and getting into the bird seed.