Cleaning & Organizing The Right Way to Clean a Bird Bath Bird baths can build up with potentially harmful bacteria, pathogens, and algae if not cleaned properly. By Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano Madeline Buiano is an associate editor at MarthaStewart.com, sharing her knowledge on a range of topics—from gardening and cleaning to home and pets. She has five years of writing and editing experience in the digital publishing industry. Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 1, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Cleaning Frequency Materials Cleaning a Bird Bath Maintenance Tips Bird baths give avians a peaceful refuge to hydrate and preen, but proper maintenance is needed to make it 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. 11 Stunning Bird Baths That Will Attract Avians to Your Backyard—and Elevate Your Garden Tammi Mild / GETTY IMAGES 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 glovesScrub brushHose or bucketWaterDistilled white vinegar Courtesy of Julie Zickefoose 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 water-proof 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 build up. 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. How to Attract Birds to Your Birdhouse—and Keep Other Critters Away Tips for Maintaining a Bird Bath There are a fews 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 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 2 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 mosquitos from attempting to breed," says Winston. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit