Spring Cleaning for the Birds

Don't forget about your feathered friends while you're doing the spring cleaning. Start the season with squeaky clean feeders, houses and baths—you'll be able to spend more time throughout the season enjoying your backyard birds!

I had trouble cleaning our large cedar bird feeder because it would not fit in our sink. My husband suggested I take it to a self-serve car wash. The high-pressure washer did the trick. It removed every trace of seed and dirt without any hassle. -Sheryl Miller, Fogo, Newfoundland

I learned it's sometimes best to leave birdhouse cleaning until early spring. Birds and other small animals may use the old nesting material to keep warm on cold winter nights. When cleaning the birdhouse, remove all debris and sterilize the house by pouring boiling water through it. Make any necessary repairs before rehanging. -Judy Singh, Maryville, Tennesee

My concrete birdbath sparkles after I scour it with Ajax kitchen cleaner. I use a good scrub brush then rinse the basin thoroughly before refilling. -Hildegard Mengot, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Clean hummingbird feeders in a solution of 1/4 cup bleach and 3/4 cup water. I put an old necklace chain in the feeder and vigorously shake it. After thoroughly rinsing several times, the feeder is ready to use. -Vernell Krueger, Campbellsport, Wisconsin

To clean my thistle feeders thoroughly, I fill a bucket with warm water and submerge the feeder in it. I then use a toothbrush with some baking soda to scrub away dirt and grime. -Margy Calvin, El Centro, California

To keep my three ponds clean, I put washable furnace filters in the waterfall. I take the filters out every 2 weeks and wash them. -Rita Redman, Kennett, Missouri

Keeping my heavy cement birdbath clean was just too difficult, so I set a clay flowerpot saucer of a slightly smaller circumference in the basic. Now I just empty the dirty water from the dish and carry it to the sink to clean out. Our birds have clean water all summer. -Dolores Renner, Leonardville, Kansas

Baby bottle brushes are perfect for scrubbing hummingbird feeders. The bristles are small enough to reach into the tiny crevices and strong enough to scrub away tough grime. -Tabatha Arden, Madisonville, Tennessee