primitives clean birdbaths

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=294x1900

Believe it or not, there's a bird forum on Skins's island.

XemaSab  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-21-07 08:05 PM
Original message

How do you keep bird baths clean?
   
We got a stone birdbath, and the thing gets pretty funky pretty quickly.

Basically, how much bleach and how often?

Or is there another strategy I should be aware of?

livetohike  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Nov-23-07 09:46 PM
Response to Original message

1. Mix 3/4 cup bleach with 1 gallon of water
   
Pour it into the birdbath and scrub with a stiff brush. Then I let this sit in the birdbath for about 15 minutes. Then scrub it again and rinse the birdbath out with clean water.

We get alot of hemlock needles in our bath and it stains the stone brown, but this bleach solution works well.

there-s a  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun May-18-08 07:30 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. Kicking
   
In case anyone else needs to clean their birdbath. I'm going to try this.

there-s a  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri May-30-08 01:17 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. Worked great!
   
Thanks.

greendog  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-25-07 12:10 AM
Response to Original message

2. You might try white vinegar.
   
It works for everything else - and it's environmentally friendly.

I buy 2 gallons of it at Costco for less than $5.00.

Habibi  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-10-08 09:31 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. Yup, I use white vinegar too.
   
Full strength, just pour in it, scrub, and rinse. I've also had good results with putting a few pennies in the bath after it's been cleaned--helps keep the mildew down. However, every time I put fresh water in (I blast out the old with a strong jet from the hose), the pennies wash out too and I lose them. Oh, well, at least they're good for something!

tigereye  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sat Jun-14-08 04:56 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. thanks for the advice!
   
mine really needs a good scrub....

The above's seven months of comments.

Alas, the bird forum on Skins's island is much like the automotive forum and the deaf and hard of hearing forum on Skins's island; one gets attacked by killer cobwebs when venturing in those dusty deserted places.

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=294x1900

Believe it or not, there's a bird forum on Skins's island.

XemaSab  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Nov-21-07 08:05 PM
Original message

How do you keep bird baths clean?
   
We got a stone birdbath, and the thing gets pretty funky pretty quickly.

Basically, how much bleach and how often?

Or is there another strategy I should be aware of?

livetohike  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri Nov-23-07 09:46 PM
Response to Original message

1. Mix 3/4 cup bleach with 1 gallon of water
   
Pour it into the birdbath and scrub with a stiff brush. Then I let this sit in the birdbath for about 15 minutes. Then scrub it again and rinse the birdbath out with clean water.

We get alot of hemlock needles in our bath and it stains the stone brown, but this bleach solution works well.

there-s a  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun May-18-08 07:30 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. Kicking
   
In case anyone else needs to clean their birdbath. I'm going to try this.

there-s a  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Fri May-30-08 01:17 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. Worked great!
   
Thanks.

greendog  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sun Nov-25-07 12:10 AM
Response to Original message

2. You might try white vinegar.
   
It works for everything else - and it's environmentally friendly.

I buy 2 gallons of it at Costco for less than $5.00.

Habibi  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-10-08 09:31 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. Yup, I use white vinegar too.
   
Full strength, just pour in it, scrub, and rinse. I've also had good results with putting a few pennies in the bath after it's been cleaned--helps keep the mildew down. However, every time I put fresh water in (I blast out the old with a strong jet from the hose), the pennies wash out too and I lose them. Oh, well, at least they're good for something!

tigereye  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Sat Jun-14-08 04:56 PM
Response to Reply #5

6. thanks for the advice!
   
mine really needs a good scrub....

The above's seven months of comments.

Alas, the bird forum on Skins's island is much like the automotive forum and the deaf and hard of hearing forum on Skins's island; one gets attacked by killer cobwebs when venturing in those dusty deserted places.

I've had my birdbath for 20+ years! Haven't cleaned it once{except maybe spraying it out with the hose}Doesn't seem to bother the birds any!

[Texacon]

Habibi  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-10-08 09:31 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. Yup, I use white vinegar too.
   
Full strength, just pour in it, scrub, and rinse. I've also had good results with putting a few pennies in the bath after it's been cleaned--helps keep the mildew down. However, every time I put fresh water in (I blast out the old with a strong jet from the hose), the pennies wash out too and I lose them. Oh, well, at least they're good for something!

Who can afford to just throw away pennies in this horrible economy.

Seriously.

 

On the other hand .... how hard is it to reach in an take them out before hitting it with a blast of water?

KC