How to keep algae out of bird bath

Algae will grow in a bird bath because the constant damp conditions are perfect for it to develop, of which algae can be killed off long before its visibly seen.

How to keep algae out of bird baths is to simply step up your cleaning routine. Algae can grow to its fullest within a month, thus you got a week, and every week after that to clean your bird bath to wash off early signs of algae. Clean in dish soap but this must follow up with an homemade disinfectant.

While algae is persistent in a bird bath bowl due to the obvious wet conditions, algae can be beaten if only you get way ahead of it each time.

To keep algae out of your bird bath would be to clean your bird bath once a week.

If you can clean the bird bath twice a week then that is even better - as its not only about preventing algae - as you must still wash off any visible staining, mold or what can be bacteria lingering where birds perch.

Clean your bird bath the way your know best but don't skimp over what is important.

When your bird bath water bowl includes a fountain feature, you use pebbles to line the base with rocks to act as perches - all this must be thoroughly cleaned in dish soap. Do your best to keep a bird bath clean of algae as you'd want to utilize any color in a bird bath as a way to attract birds to a water source with color.

If you believe algae is visible in your bird bath then do soak all areas for longer, while always using an homemade cleaning agent - such as one made in vinegar or bleach.

When the algae can get worse in your bird bath is in the spring to summertime, as algae thrives in hotter conditions - of which the heat can see algae grow more quickly.

Never allow algae to form everyday of the year by getting ahead of it by cleaning your bird bath once or twice a week, along with a disinfectant to be sure germs are killed off.

Regularly sterilize bird bath

Don't ever give algae the chance to develop within your bird bath bowl, as washing it in an homemade sanitizer you can prevent algae all together.

Sterilization of a bird bath comes only after the time you clean it. Never use a sanitizer on its own as you'd need to clear off an bacteria or stubborn bird bath grime before tackling the algae with a disinfectant.

How to clean your bird bath would be to use a safe for birds tough dish soap.

No risks are involved by using a simple dish soap although soap that is ingested by birds due to soap residue left behind, can make birds unwell.

After you've clean your bird bath the best way you know how - which is to soak it once or several times - before putting in elbow grease to scrub off any grime or stains.

Hopefully in this time no signs of algae are visible above your bird bath water line, to which your job at cleaning the bird bath is made much easier.

How to keep bird bath algae free is to regularly clean your bird bath up to once a week, while this doubles up twice weekly in warmer weather conditions likely to cause algae to develop rapidly in an ideal hotter climate.

Clean bird bath in tough dish soap

To clean your bird bath in regular deep penetrating dish soap only you can keep algae out of bird baths for now and forever.

With that in mind it would mean you'd have to clean the bird bath bowl especially once or twice a week to get ahead of early algae forming - as to wash off any invisible to the naked eye specks of algae - and with mold developing.

Dish soap is a safe, non toxic cleaning agent for ourselves with no issues by ingesting it or coming in to contact with it.

And while this would be true for your common backyard birds coming into contact with any visible soap - there are still risks to consider.

For one thing you must wash off all visible signs of dish soap - including bubbles or staining caused - because any bird can become poorly if they accidentally ingest soap, or indeed if soap ends up bleeding into the drinking water.

Clean your bird bath safely with dish soap then while remembering there are risks unless you wash off all signs of dry or wet soap residue.

Replace water two to three times weekly

Whilst cleaning your bird bath at least once a week can never allow algae to grow in time before its washed away - let's not forget dirty water can cause algae to develop.

Algae can grow to its fullest within 30 days, yet early signs of algae can begin to grow within a week or two.

With a 1 to 2 week window then you can get ahead of this currently invisible algae at this time by cleaning it out once a week.

And let's not forget the water for birds to drink or bathe in is the main source of algae, so you'd need to replace the water once a week - by replenishing after its cleaned.

But what's to say you can't replace the bird bath water twice a week with no more fuss of cleaning it. Simply replace the water source as often as you can then algae can be delayed for longer - all while your birds get fresh water regularly.

People responsible for cleaning bird baths do postpone cleaning a bird bath as long as they can - as it can be a bit of a pain. Downside to this laziness is algae will develop, and will get worse the longer you leave it.

Do clean your bird bath in dish soap while following that up with a disinfectant you can make at home - with a mild white vinegar mix or a strong homemade bleach solution.

Prioritize hotter days

What you might not know is the developing of algae in your bird bath becomes more frequent with rapid grow in hotter, humid conditions.

Spring through summertime will require more intervention on your part when cleaning the bird bath as well as you can - all while replacing the water as soon as you can.

When spring comes along the days are longer, to which more daylight can also be responsible for an increase in algae development.

With that you'd need to clean your bird bath more often in hotter months, by cleaning it with dish soap only while following this up with a disinfectant every time.

Best way to clean a bird bath in hotter months is scrubbing the empty bird bath bowl rigorously - while situating the bird bath in your yard within a shaded spot - and although the humidity can't be beat... any direct sun can be avoided.

Prioritize cleaning your bird bath in warm or hot conditions then because this is a time when algae will quickly creep up on you.

How to keep algae out of your bird bath in spring through summer is to double or triple up your cleaning routine - and only after then would you get an idea how quickly visible signs of algae grows - so you can kill it off before it develops more.

Bird baths prone to algae

Why bird baths are prone to the development of algae is first because green or red algae grows around a water source, yet bird baths are allowed to go past their best.

Bird baths prone to algae can be any model with bird baths made in any material; while plastic or metal bird baths see less algae you can be sure your stone bird bath will see more algae growing if you allow it to.

What that means for you is you'd need to regularly clean and maintain a stone bird bath more often than one made in another material.

In regard to maintenance of a stone bird bath its not any different to cleaning any bird bath type really.

How to clean a concrete bird bath just requires a little more scrubbing on your part with additional soaking in a bubble bath. Shrub with a hard bristle brush as to get it in any crack or crevice that is usually seen on the rough surface of stone bird baths.

To get rid of algae in a bird bath made in stone is far more difficult than on the smooth surface of metal or plastic bird baths; thus is vital to get ahead of the algae developing by cleaning the bird bath as often as you can.

You can still get rid of algae in a stone bird bath by scraping it off first; followed up with a double or triple soak - while scrubbing it with a brush before washing off any signs of soap residue left behind.

Conclusion

How else do you prevent dirt or stains on any surface, you clean that item as often as you can - just as a bird bath needs cleaning at least once a week.

How to keep algae out of a bird bath will need a regular clean with a safe to use for anything dish soap. You must follow this up with use of an homemade cleaning solution with white vinegar - or use a stronger bleach formula if you must.

Truth is you mustn't allow algae to grow on your bird bath because its mucky, smelly and can be toxic.

What you do is clean your bird bath at least once a week because algae doesn't begin to grow within 7 days - so you are always killing off early signs of algae

In hotter times of the year - in spring through summer - that may not be the case. You see algae does develop quicker in warmer conditions, thus you may have to clean your bird bath twice weekly just in case.

With that of course you'd need to empty the dirty water out to replace it with fresh water once a week - but who's to say you can't provide birds fresh water two or three times a week.

By the way, while a long spell of rain can replenish your bird bath with drinkable water, these wet conditions can only assist algae forming, so you must still clean your bird bath.

Certain material bird baths are made in such as plastic or metal can be less prone to algae developing on it but it still will grow.

However, a made in stone bird bath can be even more prone to algae, thus its vital you keep on top of cleaning and maintaining a concrete bird bath to prevent algae quickly growing within the water bowl.

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