How to Clean a Bird Bath the Right Way

Bird baths give avians a peaceful refuge to hydrate and preen, but proper maintenance is needed to make them a welcoming and safe environment. Since the water in a bird bath is typically stagnant and not naturally filtered like it is in a stream or pond, it can build up with potentially harmful bacteria and pathogens. Cleaning your bird bath—and filling it with fresh water regularly—will ensure it's safe for the birds drinking from it and using it to clean their feathers.

How Often to Clean a Bird Bath

How often you clean your bird bath depends on a few factors, including the weather, how frequently it's used, and where it's located. Generally, you should do a routine cleaning of your bird bath every two to three days, or more often if the water looks cloudy or dirty. More frequent cleanings may also be necessary if it's hot outside or if the bird bath is under a tree.

"Clean your bird bath more thoroughly every week or so by scrubbing it with a vinegar solution and letting it dry before refilling it," says Tod Winston, a birding guide and urban biodiversity specialist at New York City Audubon.

Materials Needed

Make sure you have these materials on hand before getting started.

• Rubber gloves
• Scrub brush
• Hose or bucket
• Water
• Distilled white vinegar
  

Steps for Cleaning a Bird Bath

While it's important to replace your bird bath water and rinse away any debris every other day, you should also complete a deep clean of the bird bath once a week, following the steps outlined below.

1. Discard Old Water

Start by putting on a pair of waterproof gloves to protect your hands when cleaning. "Pour out the old bird bath water and large debris into a nearby flower bed or lawn, where it will drain into the soil and not accumulate," says Winston.

2. Rinse and Scrub

Once the dirty water is removed, rinse the bird bath out with a hose or bucket of clean water. Scrub any lingering debris with a brush. Note that the type of brush you use is dependent on the material of your bird bath.

"For the lightweight plastic basin I use in the WarblerFall, I have learned the hard way that a wire brush, which works well on hard ceramic, will score it badly," says Julie Zickefoose, bird expert and creator of the DIY WarblerFall bird bath. "Algae then gets in the scratch marks, and you can’t get it out." For delicate materials, consider a nylon dish scrubber or a cleaning eraser.

3. Clean With Vinegar

Next, mix a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part distilled white vinegar, says Winston. Dip a scrub brush into the cleaning solution and scrub the bird bath, especially focusing on areas with a lot of algae buildup.

4. Rinse and Refill

After scrubbing the bird bath, rinse it with water to remove the vinegar solution. "Let it dry in the sun to make sure any remaining vinegar has evaporated," says Winston. Once the bird bath is dry, refill it with fresh water.

Tips for Maintaining a Bird Bath

There are a few measures you can take to limit how frequently you need to replace the water in your bird bath and keep it sanitary in between deep cleans.

• If possible, place your bird bath in the shade to keep the water cool, reduce evaporation, and slow down the growth of algae and bacteria, says Winston. The best area for a bird bath is near, but not directly under, a low shrub or tree.
• If your bath has rocks, keep a reserve pile of flat rocks to switch out and set the dirty ones in the hot sun to bake, says Zickefoose.
• Generally, your bird bath water should only be a maximum of two inches deep. "Deeper water is less comfortable for smaller birds to wash and preen, and is harder to keep clean," says Winston.
• Always replace old bird bath water completely rather than just adding more water to a dirty bird bath.
• Consider adding a running water feature to your bird bath, either with a fountain or a simple, slow trickle from a hose. "The sound of moving or dripping water is very attractive to birds, and water movement will also discourage mosquitoes from attempting to breed," says Winston.