Bulbs Flower Basics Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens Flower Garden Garden Furniture Garden Gnomes Garden Seeds Garden Sheds Garden Statues Garden Tools & Supplies Gardening Basics Green & Organic Groundcovers & Vines Growing Annuals Growing Basil Growing Beans Growing Berries Growing Blueberries Growing Cactus Growing Corn Growing Cotton Growing Edibles Growing Flowers Growing Garlic Growing Grapes Growing Grass Growing Herbs Growing Jasmine Growing Mint Growing Mushrooms Orchids Growing Peanuts Growing Perennials Growing Plants Growing Rosemary Growing Roses Growing Strawberries Growing Sunflowers Growing Thyme Growing Tomatoes Growing Tulips Growing Vegetables Herb Basics Herb Garden Indoor Growing Landscaping Basics Landscaping Patios Landscaping Plants Landscaping Shrubs Landscaping Trees Landscaping Walks & Pathways Lawn Basics Lawn Maintenance Lawn Mowers Lawn Ornaments Lawn Planting Lawn Tools Outdoor Growing Overall Landscape Planning Pests, Weeds & Problems Plant Basics Rock Garden Rose Garden Shrubs Soil Specialty Gardens Trees Vegetable Garden Yard Maintenance

How to Clean a Concrete Birdbath

How to Start Lemon Seeds Indoors - watch on youtube
How to Clean a Concrete Birdbath

How to Clean a Concrete Birdbath. A common recipe for birdbath cleaning is one part bleach to 10 parts water, yet there are effective environmentally friendly alternatives. The right birdbath location and a routine for regular maintenance makes cleaning the easily stained concrete less of a chore. A neglected birdbath can harm birds by spreading...

A common recipe for birdbath cleaning is one part bleach to 10 parts water, yet there are effective environmentally friendly alternatives. The right birdbath location and a routine for regular maintenance makes cleaning the easily stained concrete less of a chore. A neglected birdbath can harm birds by spreading disease. Keep three basic household products on hand for bird-safe concrete birdbath care that's also friendlier to the environment.
Things You'll Need
Stiff-bristled scrub brush with a handle
Mild soap, such as castille soap or environmentally friendly dish soap
White vinegar
Wire brush
Borax
Garden hose
Step 1
Empty the birdbath once a week and scrub the inside surface with a stiff-bristled brush and mild soap. This keeps the concrete clean if the bath is well-maintained with daily water changes.
Step 2
Pour at least 1 cup of undiluted white vinegar into the birdbath once or twice a month for algae removal if buildup occurs. Add more vinegar if needed to cover the bath's bottom. Clean the concrete with vinegar more often in the summer, if necessary.
Step 3
Scrub the concrete with a wire brush in two or more directions to loosen algae, mildew and soiling. Rinse the birdbath thoroughly with a hose.
Step 4
Mix 1/4 cup of borax in two cups of hot water, stirring with a spoon. Pour the mixture into the birdbath. Borax kills mold and mildew and helps remove stubborn stains. Scrub the mixture into the concrete with a wire brush.
Step 5
Rinse the birdbath at least twice to remove all the residue. Refill it. Limit the water depth to 2 to 3 inches. Birds prefer low water and will avoid a birdbath when the water is too deep.

Check out these related posts