How to Clean Mold Out of Glass Hummingbird Feeders
With wings that flap at a rate as fast as 80 times per second, hummingbirds are always an awe-inspiring sight. Many like to attract these tiny birds to their home for the sheer joy of catching a glimpse of them in motion. Hummingbird feeders, like anything else that is exposed to moisture and warmth, can potentially accumulate mold, which is not only unsightly to look at but unhealthy for you and your quick little friends. Fortunately, cleaning it out is easy, so next time your local hummingbirds come by for a quick snack; they’ll never even know it was gone.
Take the feeder down from wherever you had it hanging.
Empty the liquid contents and wash them down the drain in the sink.
Mix 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach with a gallon of warm water in a bucket.
- With wings that flap at a rate as fast as 80 times per second, hummingbirds are always an awe-inspiring sight.
- Fortunately, cleaning it out is easy, so next time your local hummingbirds come by for a quick snack; they’ll never even know it was gone.
Set the feeder in the solution making sure that it is completely submerged.
Allow the feeder to soak for an hour.
Remove the feeder from the solution and use a brush to remove any residual mold.
Rinse the feeder with clean warm water.
Refill the feeder with the hummingbird food of your choice and hang it back up.
Cons Of Hummingbird Feeders
Poor design can mean the hummingbird feeder leaks, causing a sticky mess. Feeder styles range from artsy glass to utilitarian plastic. Basin shapes with feeder ports on top prevent messy spills. Yellow attracts bees, but they don’t respond to hummer-preferred red. Choose an easy-to-disassemble feeder with openings that accommodate a bottle brush or old toothbrush. Use vinegar for stubborn stains, according to feeder label directions, then rinse thoroughly. The sugary water in feeders can attract racoons or other unwanted wildlife. The Audubon Society reports that nearly 1 billion birds die from window collisions in the U.S. every year. If you want to take photos, use a feeder with a perch so the birds can rest while they drink. Feeders don’t disrupt hummingbird migration because insects, not nectar, are their main source of nutrition. The occasional straggler might stop by for a sugar supplement.
- Set the feeder in the solution making sure that it is completely submerged.
- Poor design can mean the hummingbird feeder leaks, causing a sticky mess.
Tip
White vinegar is an acceptable substitute for chlorine bleach.
Related Articles
References
- About Hummingbirds
- Hummingbird Feeders
- Audubon California Kern River Preserve: Feeding Hummingbirds
- Clemson Cooperative Extension: A Haven for Hummingbirds
- Hummingbirds.net: Hummingbird Feeders
- Seattle Audubon Society: Feeding Hummingbirds in the Winter
- Bird Watcher's Digest.com: Twelve Common Questions about Hummingbirds, Feeding and More
- Cornell University Lab of Ornithology: Feeding Hummingbirds
- Audubon: Minimizing Window Collisions
Tips
- White vinegar is an acceptable substitute for chlorine bleach.
Writer Bio
Melynda Sorrels spent 10 years in the military working in different capacities of the medical field, including dental assisting, health services administration, decontamination and urgent medical care. Awarded the National Guardsman’s Medal for Lifesaving efforts in 2002, Sorrels was also a nominee for a Red Cross Award and a certified EMT-B for four years.
