How to Clean A Bird Bath in 30 Minutes and Keep it Clean

This tutorial shows how to clean a bird bath in just 30 minutes. All you need are a few household supplies.

Clean bird baths will not only attract more birds to your garden, but they can also serve as a water source for pollinators like butterflies and bees.

Dirty water can become a breeding ground for insect populations such as gnats and mosquitoes, which can be problematic for humans and birds.

Fortunately, we have a solution for this problem. Keep reading to learn how to clean your bird bath easily and quickly. 

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How to clean bird baths

To clean your bird bath, you’ll need a hose, some sponges, a bucket and the following supplies:

• A stiff scrubbing brush
• 1 40-gallon black plastic bag
• Bleach

How to clean a concrete bird bath

I used this process to clean a concrete bird bath. The technique works for other types of bird baths, including cement, stone, plastic, and metal. Be sure to test the bleach on your bird bath in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t damage the finish.

Start by removing any debris that is in the bird bath. The water contains an accumulation of all sorts of bacteria, including algae and bird feces.

Tip the bird bath onto its side and let the water run into the surrounding garden. This close-up shows just how dirty a bird bath can get!

Next, use a hose to remove dirt and scum from the basin. Use the highest pressure on your hose and then scrub the bird bath with a stiff scrubbing brush.

You’ll probably get most of the dirt out by doing this, but there may still be some residue that the brush and water will not clean.

Cleaning a bird bath with bleach

Note: This recipe uses bleach to clean the bird bath. Bleach is very toxic. It must be diluted properly and the bird bath must be rinsed thoroughly after it’s cleaned, to make sure you don’t harm the birds.

A safe ratio is 1 part bleach to 9-10 parts of water. If you don’t want to use bleach, white vinegar and water in the same ratio do a pretty good job of cleaning a bird bath, but vinegar does not kill the pathogens that bleach does.

Add the water and bleach mixture to the basin of the bird bath. Make sure the water goes above any stain marks.

Cover the entire bird bath with a 40-gallon black plastic bag and leave it for about 15-20 minutes or longer if it is very dirty.

This black bag step is necessary because the water in the bath will be attractive to birds now that it is clean, and you don’t want them to be drinking the bleach solution.

The black color absorbs the rays of the sun and will heat the water. This helps to clean the bird bath quickly.

After 20 minutes, check to make sure the bird bath is clean. If it still has algae or scum in it, replace the bag for a bit longer.

You can save the plastic bag to use again the next time you need to clean your bird bath.

The whole process takes about 30 minutes, unless your bird bath is very, very dirty and has been neglected for a long time.

Finishing the bird bath cleaning

The bleach and water solution will kill your plants or lawn if you tip the bird bath sideways and drain the water. To avoid this, use sponges and a bucket to remove the water.

Rinse the bird bath thoroughly. Use the highest pressure setting and let the water run into the bird bath for about 2 minutes. Be sure to get every part of the bird bath rinsed well.

Smell the bath. If you can smell any bleach, keep rinsing.

Let the bird bath dry in the sun before putting in fresh water. The basin will dry in just a few minutes on a hot sunny day. 

Refill the bird bath with fresh water for your birds to enjoy. The bird bath will remain clean for several days. You can help to keep it clean longer by pressure rinsing and refilling the bath daily.

With proper care, you will only occasionally need to use the bleach method as a bird bath cleaner.

Now the birds will love to visit!

How to keep a bird bath clean

Now that your bird bath is clean, you will want to keep it that way. Here are some things you can do to ensure that the bird bath doesn’t get so dirty in the future.

• Position your bird bath so that it is not under bird feeders or woody trees, which allow debris and seeds to get into the water. You can position it near a feeder, but not under it.
• Place your bird bath in a shady spot. This minimizes algae growth and slows the evaporation of the water.
• Change the water daily to prevent the buildup of algae.
• When adding water, remove the old water so that the entire basin has clean water in it.
• Consider adding a fountain pump to your bird bath. This will keep the water moving, help with cleanliness, and discourage mosquitoes.
• Copper purification disks are designed to keep algae in bird baths low.
• If you bird bath needs a light cleaning, you can use bird bath enzymes instead of the bleach method.
• Alka Seltzer and copper pipes also help to keep a bird bath clean. See my test results on this method here.

How often should you clean a bird bath?

Algae grows quickly in water during the hot summer months. All bird baths should be cleaned and refilled regularly to make them a safe place for birds.

Bird baths often become discolored in the summer and may benefit from a more frequent cleaning routine.

This is also true in the fall months. Falling leaves and debris often end up in the bowl of the bird bath.

Clean bird baths with a strong spray of water 2-3 times a week, or when you start to see discoloration on the bottom of the basin. This will help to keep algae from growing and will make it easier to keep the bird bath clean in the long run.

Check each time you change the water to see if the bird bath needs a stronger cleaning. 

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Admin note: This post with tips for cleaning a cement, concrete or stone bird bath first appeared on my blog in August of 2013. I have updated it to include some new photos, a printable project card, tips for keeping the bird bath clean, and a video for you to enjoy.

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Yield: 1 clean cement bird bath

Cleaning a Bird Bath in Just Minutes

Print

Bird baths can get very dirty, especially in the hot summer months. Use these instructions and a few supplies to get your bird bath sparkling clean in just minutes.

Active Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost $2

Materials

• 3/4 cup liquid bleach
• 1 gallon of water

Tools

• Scrubbing brush
• Hose
• 40-gallon black plastic bag
• Large pail
• Sponges

Instructions

1. Use the highest pressure on your hose attachment to remove as much of the debris and grit as you can from the bird bath.
2. Scrub the basin with a scrubbing brush to remove the grime residue. Some stains may remain.
3. Combine 3/4 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water to make your cleaning solution.
4. Add this solution to the bird bath, making sure the it is above the stain lines. Depending on the size of your bird bath, you may need to make two batches of the solution.
5. Cover the entire bird bath with a 40-gallon black plastic bag.
6. Leave the black plastic bag on the bird bath, in the sun for 15-20 minutes. The sun's heat will warm the water inside the bag and clean the bird bath for you.
7. Remove the bag.
8. If any residue and stains remain, replace the black bag for a bit longer.
9. Use sponges to sop up the water into a bucket, and discard it. Be careful of getting the bleach water on nearby plants since this can kill them.
10. Use a hose with a high-pressure nozzle to rinse out basin thoroughly.
11. Smell the bird bath. If any bleach odor is present, rinse more. You don't want any residue of bleach to remain in the bird bath, for the health of the birds.
12. Allow the bird bath to dry in the sun for 5-10 minutes.
13. Fill the bird bath with fresh water and welcome the birds back.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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  23.8 Inch High Concrete Bird Bath with Carved Pedestal – Birdbath Sturdy & Elegant Design, Stone-Like Texture, Attracts Birds
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  Sunnydaze Ceramic Bird Bath for Outside - 16" H - UV- and Frost-Resistant - Pedestal Bird Bath - Blue Glazed Bowl - White Lava Finish
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  24.8 Inch Heigh Concrete Bird Bath with Pineapple Texture – Sturdy & Elegant Design, Attracts Birds and Enhances Garden

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