Stop Algae From Building Up In A Bird Bath With An Essential Household Ingredient

If your bird bath is looking greener than your yard or browner than the soil it grows in, then you might have an algae problem. Don't worry, all you need is a versatile household ingredient you probably already have in your cupboard. It's apple cider vinegar to the rescue!

Vinegar is a great, all-natural cleanser whose acidic properties make it perfect for taking on tough stains and cleaning just about anything, including your bird bath. It can break down the cell walls of some kinds of algae, killing it. Apple cider vinegar is especially good to use in your bird baths because traditional detergents can strip birds' wings of important oils — or even make them sick if they ingest any soapy residue. Also, the acidic solution might even help prevent algae from coming back. 

If you let algae (typically the green, red, and brown varieties) grow unabated in your bird baths, it's not just unsightly. Algae can be toxic to birds. For one thing, it sometimes interferes with their immune systems. Birds tend to avoid slimy algae, as well, so it can scare them away. The unwanted growth can thrive in any still water, but it likes bird baths in particular because it feeds on bird droppings and sunlight. Floating green islands of algae also like to grow in ponds. Vinegar is one good algaecide for ponds that is safe for fish, frogs, and birds. To fight algae buildup, grab some apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, water, a sponge or scrubbing brush, and some rubber gloves.

If you want to stop bird bath algae in its tracks, you'll just need to make a solution of one part apple cider vinegar, nine parts water. Mix up your solution in a tub or container. Make sure to dump out any water in the bird bath before you start to clean. Then, dip your sponge or brush in the vinegar mixture and thoroughly scrub the basin and walls of the bird bath. After scrubbing, be sure to rinse well. This should remove any algae. 

A word of caution: Don't leave vinegar in your bird bath's basin with the water you intend for your birds. Be sure to rinse the vinegar mixture out thoroughly. Rinsing out your bird bath is a good idea to do regularly anyway to discourage mosquitoes from making it their nursery. After cleaning, if you continue to have serious algae problems in your bird bath, consider moving it into the shade. Sunlight helps algae grow faster. 

If you have vinegar left over, there are other ways you can put it to good use in the garden. You can use vinegar as a weed killer for starters, although you probably want a horticultural vinegar that's got a higher acidic content. You can also use it to clean out your hummingbird feeder safely, as well as your bird baths. Bugs don't much care for it either, so you can use vinegar as an insect garden spray.