How To Clean My Plastic Bird Feeder

Joan asked: We have a hanging bird feeder, the kind with the clear plastic tube. I would like to know how to make clean it.

If non maintained, bird feeders tin can develop mold and bacteria growth. This spreads to the birds that consume the birdseed and can and then contaminate other birds. This can be prevented with a simple cleaning.

You Will Need:

Condom gloves
Stiff brush or salt
Bleach
H2o
Bucket or sink
Soft towel or cloth

Steps to Make clean and Sanitize the Bird Feeder:

Wear rubber gloves for protection from the bleach as well equally any germs that may be nowadays on the feeder.
Fill a bucket or sink with one role bleach and nine parts hot h2o.
Remove whatsoever remaining birdseed from the feeder and disassemble as needed to fit all of the parts into the h2o. If yous are having trouble disassembling your bird feeder, look online for the user manual for your particular model to amend understand if and how your feeder can be taken apart. If you are unable to disassemble the feeder and it does not fit in the sink or bucket, a trash bag tin be used instead. Exist certain not to apply more bleach than instructed though; a good guide is to bank check the box of your trash bags to find out how many gallons each bag holds, so adjust the amount of bleach needed based on how much y'all need to fill up the bag (i/4 total, 1/2 total, etc.).
Once submerged, use a stiff castor to scrub away any debris that may be present both inside and outside of the feeder. Smaller brushes will be needed for smaller feeders. Old toothbrushes work well for these. If your feeder can't be disassembled and y'all have problem scrubbing inside it, utilize a bottle brush or other long-handled brush, or pour in some salt and shake the feeder – the salt volition deed as an abrasive and do the scrubbing for you.
Clean the perches, lids, feeding ports, platforms, etc. All areas should be disinfected and any bird droppings washed abroad.
Once all parts of the feeder take been cleaned, rinse each piece thoroughly.
For the best rinse, hold each piece under make clean, running water for at least ten seconds.
Dry each slice completely with a soft cloth.
Allow them to air dry until all wet is gone.
Reassemble and refill the bird feeder for use.

Additional Tips and Advice

The frequency of the cleanings will depend on the use of the feeder. Most feeders should be cleaned at least monthly. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned each time the nectar is inverse.
In that location are commercial bird feeder cleaners and disinfectants as well. These tin can be found at pet supply stores.
If using dish detergent to make clean the bird feeder, use a small amount of unscented detergent. Be sure to rinse the feeder completely.
In addition to cleaning the feeder, bank check the surrounding areas. Remove any rotten fruit from trees, and consider roofing the areas beneath with mulch.