Clean bird baths are a must to attract birds. It prevents the spread of disease and keeps birds healthy.

We'll cover 6 ways you can clean your bird bath, how to choose the best cleaning method, and tips to make your bird bath a haven for birds year round.

Bird bath cleaning solutions vary based on 2 factors:

1. Regular maintenance or deep cleaning

Your bird bath cleaning schedule depends on the season and how many visitors your bird bath gets.

You want to replace the bird bath water and clean the basin about once a week in cold winter climates and every 2 or 3 days in hot or tropical climates.

Adjust the frequency of cleaning based on how many birds visit and how often they’re there. Keep bird baths partially shade in the summer to slow algae growth.

2. Bird bath materials

Materials can impact the cleaning solution you choose to use.

There are 7 bird bath materials you’ll find:

Concrete and Stone
Resin and Ceramic
Metal
Plastic
Glass (less common)

Most materials can be washed using most of the cleaning methods with a few exceptions. Metal should never be cleaned using baking soda because it can remove the patina. Concrete and stone bird baths usually need a hard bristle or wire brush to clean whereas ceramic can be damaged by the wire.

Cleaning bird baths outdoors safely requires you to use a method that's non-toxic to plants and animals. Read on to see how best to use each cleaning method and on what bird bath materials.

Items you’ll need

Here’s a list of materials you’ll need to clean your bird bath

Rubber kitchen gloves
Bristled brush for scrubbing
Basin or plastic bin (optional)
Hand towel
Toothbrush (optional for fine details)
Wire brush (concrete and stone only)

The towel as needed to keep yourself comfortable and dry.

I personally hate when water drips down my rubber kitchen gloves so I use large rubber bands to keep the tops closed.

A heavy duty bristled brush set is a versatile household staple. You can use it to clean most surfaces in and outside the house.

Always wear gloves when cleaning bird baths due to the germs you can pick up from birds and their droppings.

They're reusable and great for general household cleaning.

Basin or No Basin

You can clean your bird bath outdoors or you can submerge it in a basin or rubber tote. It mostly depends on what cleaning solution you want to use. Larger, bulkier bird baths are easier to clean outside so opt for non-toxic options that won't harm wildlife and plants like castile soap and diluted hydrogen peroxide.

You can also bring the bird bath and basin indoors to ensure toxic chemicals can't hurt plants or animals. Simply dump the basin out in a sink or bathtub after.

6 Ways on How to Clean a Bird Bath Safely

The ultimate goal is to keep your bird bath safe for birds— clean water that won’t spread disease or illness. Some solutions are better for cleaning cosmetic issues like stuck on grime while others are better for regular cleaning or sanitizing .

Your options for cleaning bird baths are:

Soap
Vinegar
Hydrogen peroxide
Baking soda
Bleach solution (deep cleaning only)
Pressure washer

Natural soap or diluted hydrogen peroxide solutions are fine to wash outdoors since they won’t kill plants or animals. Other bird bath cleaners should be handled indoors.

Soap

Mild dish soap and water is an excellent way to clean your bird baths. It’s simple and you probably have all the items you need. Castile soap is a good option if you want to keep the bird bath where it is to clean it since its safe and nontoxic for plants and animals. Other soaps

Empty your bird bath and add a few drops of mild dish soap. Use a brush to scrub the basin removing any grime. Rinse until water runs clean.

Vinegar

Vinegar is the most popular option for cleaning bird baths. The acidity breaks down bacteria and algae without being toxic to birds.

Mix 1 part distilled white vinegar with 1 part water with 9 parts water. Let the solution soak in the bird bath basin for 15-20 minutes, scrub the basin thoroughly with the brush, and rinse clean.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide cleans bird baths similarly to a vinegar solution. It’s environmentally friendly and doesn’t leave any toxic residue.

Mix 1 part 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to 1 part water, or about 1 tbsp per gallon of water. Let soak for 15-20 minutes, scrub with brush, and rinse thoroughly.

It’s less popular than vinegar in some birding circles but works just as well.

Baking Soda

Can help remove mold but technically won’t “clean” your bird bath because it can’t kill germs or bacteria. Cleaning your bird bath with baking is good for removing stuck on grime like bird droppings or mold. I recommend washing with either soap or vinegar both before and after using baking soda.

Empty the bird bath basin and sprinkle with fresh baking soda. Add a few drops of clean water and mix into a paste with your hands. Let sit for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing with a stiff bristled brush and rinse clean. Use a wire brush if the residue is tough to budge

Don’t use baking soda on metal bird baths. It will remove and polish the natural patina which most people want to preserve.

Bleach

Bleach is best for deep cleaning bird baths instead of regular maintenance because it’s time consuming to ensure proper safety for the birds. You need to rinse the bird bath thoroughly multiple times and dry it in the sun to make sure any possible residue is neutralized in the sun.

Mix 1 part bleach to 10 parts water for stone, concrete, plastic, and ceramic bird baths. Let the solution soak in the basin for about 10 to 20 mins then scrub vigorously with your brush. Rinse several times with clean warm water and air dry in the sun before refilling.

Deep clean your bird bath once a season or as needed to prevent algae and disease, especially if there’s an outbreak.

Pressure Washer

This won’t clean or kill germs. Instead, pressure washing bird baths is great for blasting off stuck on gunk, stains, or droppings on stone or concrete bird baths (and sometimes metal). Other bird bath materials could break under the pressure.

Use a PSI under 1000 and a wide angle tip to safely clean tough spots without damaging the stone.

Pressure wash your bird bath before you clean it with any of the aforementioned cleaners.

Do’s…

Do use a soft bristled brush for delicate surfaces. Ideal for any glossy finishes that can scratch easily like glass or resin. This only matters if you’re worried about superficial scratches.
Do remove debris daily. Skim with a net to remove leaves, insects, or feathers.
Do clean bird bath accessories. Rocks, pebbles, fountains, and floating objects need regular cleaning, too
Do locate away from windows and perches. Birds can easily fly into windows and perches make it easy for predators to snatch them. Birds are more likely to poop in it if it's near a bird feeder, bird house, or natural perches.
Do keep water moving. Stagnant water is prone to algae, bacteria, and bug larvae. Use an inexpensive bird bath fountain.

… and Don’ts

Don’t add dirty pennies. They can contaminate your water. Copper helps prevent algae from growing but only pre-1982 pennies with 95% copper are safe. Newer pennies have zinc which might harm birds. Thoroughly wash and sanitize your pre-’82 pennies before adding them to your bird bath.
Don’t add chemicals to the water. There’s no product you can add to the water that won’t be toxic to birds.
Don’t forget to share your visitors with the community. Sparkbird App is a great way to connect with bird enthusiasts, find local bird watching groups, and share your birding adventures!

What birds have you seen at your bird bath?

Share them on the Sparkbird App! Available in the Apple App Store.

Related: How to Use the Sparkbird App

How to Clean Your Bird Bath Safely (6 different ways!)