Birdbath cleaning

maybeljj · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Fort Worth,TEXAS

My co-worker was visiting his mom yesterday and asked about her birdbath, how she kept it so clean. She said she had to clean it about once a week with Purex! Grief! He asked me and I said I just used clean water & a brush (mine doesn't have flowing water). What can she clean this birdbath with (organically) so she doesn't have to use Purex???

Birdzilla · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 145 Location: mckinney,TEXAS

The somewhat standard answer for cleaning birdbaths is a 10% bleach and water solution, with lots of rinsing.

Water should be changed 1-2 times a week, so good job there. Frequent changing of the water is not only good for the birds it keeps mosquito larva from developing.

If changing the water every week the use of bleach is probably not required everytime. Maybe only once or twice a year.

A company called Carefree Enzymes has a variety of products designed to help keep birdbaths (and bird feeders) clean, and they are environmentally safe. www.carefreeenzymes.com/id24.html

Their products are available at many of the bird specialty stores.

maybeljj · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Fort Worth,TEXAS

Thank you so very much for your reply. I'll be sure & get this reply to my co-worker. Using Purex made me very uneasy for those innocent birds!!!

Nadine · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 1184 Location: Carrollton,TEXAS

I do not believe in using bleach myself. Not chlorine bleach. It is some pretty nasty stuff. I have great results with hydrogen peroxide. Works like a charm!

Mr. Clean · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 708 Location: Garland, Texas

I don't use a lot of chlorine bleach, but I don't understand the aversion to it when diluted sensibly. In the case of emergency and without any other means, I would trust treating the water I drink with it. Why should I fear cleaning out a bird bath with a solution as described by Birdzilla?