If you are at all unsure, however, you should consult the guidelines to make sure you do not damage your feeder. If you lost the guidelines, you can type the name of your feeder into a search engine. You may be able to find a copy of the guidelines online. Some feeders, though, recommend using soap. Soap is not effective at removing black mold and soap is hard to remove without leaving residue that will harm the birds’ stomachs.
Unless you see mold, opt for white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide as your cleaner. Vinegar should be diluted with water. Use two parts water to one part vinegar. [2] X Research source You can also use simple dish soap. However, you should boil your feeder in a large pot of water to remove all soap residue because even a small amount of soap damages the stomach lining of the birds by attacking the stomach cells. If your feeder can’t be boiled without deformation then don’t use soap or use very little and soak the feeder in a large pot of water, stirring occasionally. Then rinse it very thoroughly.
After being soaked, residue should come off easily. You should not have to scrub with too much force.
To dilute bleach, mix a quarter cup of bleach with a gallon of water. It’s easiest to put your bleach and water in a large bucket.
Remember to wear gloves when working with bleach.
Make sure to scrub off any traces of black mold. You do not want any black mold on the feeder when you put it back in place. Where gloves for the duration of the cleaning process.
Check the hummingbird feeder each morning and evening. If it looks yellow or you see bugs in the nectar, change it. [11] X Research source
In high heat situations or when the feeder is in direct sunlight, nectar can go bad in less than a day. At a minimum, you’ll need to change the nectar every 3-5 days. [13] X Research source
