This Common Kitchen Ingredient Is The Secret To A Clean Bird Bath

Birds are a delight to watch in the garden, especially as they splash around in the bird bath you have in your yard. Whether it's a homemade concrete bird bath or a store-bought one, these nature-friendly water features are a great way to encourage birds to visit. While providing your neighborhood birds a place to drink and bathe can be wonderful, you could be doing more harm than good if you don't keep your bird bath clean. 

A dirty bird bath can potentially become a vehicle for diseases, including deadly ones, to pass between birds. Any algae in the bird bath can also make birds sick. Luckily, you can easily keep yours clean with just a bit of baking soda, which can remove any stains from this popular yard fixture. But starting this task with vinegar can make your job even easier. Both of these ingredients are likely in your kitchen already, which is convenient!

Bird baths should be cleaned at least weekly, and may need to be cleaned more often, especially when it is hot out. Make sure you're also changing the water out daily. Not only will this keep the water clean for the birds, but it can help prevent mosquitoes. 

To start cleaning your bird bath, dump out all of the old water. Then, fill it with a mix of 1 cup of vinegar for every 9 cups of water. Use a scrub brush to wash all parts of the bird bath, and then rinse it thoroughly with fresh water. Vinegar is great to wash a bird bath because it doesn't damage the oils on birds' feathers the way that soap can, and of course, it's a nontoxic and affordable option, too. 

For the deep cleaning aspect, however, baking soda is your star ingredient — especially if any stubborn stains persist. Add enough water to baking soda to create a paste, and use this mixture, along with a tough-bristled scrub brush, to eliminate those stains. When you're done, rinse and refill the bird bath with fresh, clean water, and it should be good as new. Don't forget to wash your hands thoroughly when you're finished, just in case there's any lingering avian bacteria.