How do you keep bird baths clean?

[XemaSab]

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]

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.

[Theres-a]

3. Kicking

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

[Theres-a]

4. Worked great!

Thanks.

[greendog]

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.

http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/357/uses-for-vinegar/

[Habibi]

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]

6. thanks for the advice!

mine really needs a good scrub....