Clean hummingbird feeders are essential to attracting hummingbirds!
Hummingbird nectar spoils easily and can harbor mold and bacteria harmful to hummingbirds.
Cleaning nectar bird feeders is simple and quick.
All you need are a couple household staples
How to Clean a Hummingbird Feeder in 5 Easy Steps using Soap
1. Empty your hummingbird feeder in the sink
First, get rid of the old nectar even if no hummingbirds have eaten it.
Hummingbird food or nectar is just sugar water. It ferments and goes bad quickly so you need to change it every few days.
If it's mostly full, refill it only half way or less after cleaning to reduce waste.
2. Take Apart the Feeder
There are multiple small parts to your feeder that need to be removed so it can be cleaned thoroughly.
Simply unscrew or pop off all the removable pieces such as the flowers and nectar caps.
3. Soak in a Cleaning Solution
Soak your bird feeder in hot water + cleaning solution of your choice for 30 minutes.
There are 3 main way to clean your hummingbird feeder:
I usually just use whatever dish soap I have on hand.
Some people may be concerned about the perfumes or dyes in dish soaps being bad for the birds but, so long as you rinse it well, they’re perfectly fine.
Check out these articles to learn how to clean your hummingbird feeders using hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.
- Related: 9 Ways to Attract Hummingbirds
4. Scrub All Parts of the Feeder
Scrub thoroughly with a mildly abrasive brush or sponge with soap or the cleaning solution of your choice.
You can use any of these for tight nooks and crannies:
- toothbrush
- mascara wands
- Bottle brush
- straw cleaners
- pipe cleaners
Bottle and straw brushes can last forever! I've been using the same ones for almost 8 years now.
A. Bottle & Straw Brush Sets
A standard Brush Cleaning Set like this is all you need. Simply hang to dry.
This Cacti Bottle Cleaning Brush Set with a faux Terracotta holder is a fun option. It keeps the counter dry with a collection reservoir making it easy to keep clean and scum free.
5. Rinse Well and Dry
Rinse the scrubbed parts under warm or hot water until all cleaning solution is gone.
Lay flat on a clean, dry dish towel or in a clean dish rack to dry before refilling with fresh hummingbird food.
Do I need a dish rack?
No, but they're nice if you have the space. This bamboo dish drying rack is collapsible for easy storage.
Seen any hummingbirds lately?
Share them on the Sparkbird App! Available in the Apple App Store.
Happy Birding!