This Hummingbird Feeder Cleaning Tip Will Save You Hours of Work

[@HummingbirdSpot]

You can purchase the feeders I'm using here: amzn.to/2VfxD5d Special thanks for the support of the Hummingbird Spot Members and especially to the Hummingbird Fanatics: Patchouli, Justine Floresee, ABirdPerson, EJP Campbell, Cynthia Fortner PhD, Sharon Tallon, Wyatt Doolittle, Morrigaine E Wolf!

[@themagnet61]

I am the new guy and I just subscribed to your channel. I checked the link given to the feeder and the reviews come back as bees love this feeder. Are you having any bee issues?

[@Vbluevital]

Great Tip, Thank You! 😘

[@CindyColson-r1w]

Thank you!!

[@bethanythatsme]

You are too fun, so glad to have found your channel. Greetings and well wishes from Oregon 🌲🌊

[@jackiepadin3629]

Every time I wash my feeders, I like to soak them with soap and water and use a denture brush to clean every opening. I rinse them and give them a quick vinegar rinse and then rinse with water again. I have 12 feeders and I find that every 3 days is refueling time. I am happy to report that this year I have Orioles visiting my feeders. Thanks for all your tips for taking care of these wonderful flying jewels.

[@Stretch-bh8pd]

I’ve seen the orioles at my feeders too! Wonder why

[@mistygibson-nk7uy]

I thought soap wasn’t good for the birds?

[@denicezabinski9967]

You talk/lecture too much.

[@jackiepadin3629]

@@denicezabinski9967obviously u get scared when u c a lot of letters together! Sorry for ur ignorance

[@denicezabinski9967]

@@jackiepadin3629 your stupidness and ignorance runs deep. There is no cure for you

[@beyourownforceofnature7291]

I really enjoy your channel! We are a non-toxic household, too! Vinegar is a wonderful cleaning solution for everything! Thank you!♥️

[@HummingbirdSpot]

I agree!

[@mrxxbrian]

Great educational video. Carol, I hope you realize that you are making such a huge impact not around your local area, but across the New World. You are an inspiration!

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@wellslj]

What a nice outside work area. Thanks for the tip.

[@sara-eo4cu]

You know, I think you’re my new favorite person. Thank you so much!

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Aww. Thanks!

[@michaelhopkins857]

Thank you for the info. The black mold has been a cleaning nightmare for 20 plus years. You have made my year

[@suzanalbright8670]

You said I would thank you, and I do. Thanks!

[@LydiaAllen-t6y]

Thank you this is something new I learned I knew the black mold was dangerous but I like the way you’re cleaning tip works. Thank you.

[@janineaggott6741]

OMG - game changer. I wish I knew this 62 yrs ago!

[@YourMissMarianne]

Thank you so much, even though it's cold out down here in Texas, I'm still keeping one feeder out because there's a little guy still hanging around. This morning was the first time I noticed little black spots in the ports! Thank you so much for this tip, I will definitely use it.

[@Patricia-cf1be]

Thanks! Hope your having a great summer!! 😃

[@marygarner5249]

Thank you for your good advice always love your video's 💟💟💟💟

[@celiabennett2400]

Thank you so much for this!! I'm new to hummingbirds and found your lovely account from this video. Before the most of the males started migrating south for the winter, I had about 15 broad tailed hummingbirds coming to my 3 feeders (kept having to buy more because I kept getting more hummers! Lol)

[@paulaaugustine9026]

I use warm soapy water,gently scrub parts with a toothbrush and rinse with clean water.

[@SewAndTellwithDori]

Great info! I use a toothbrush, other brushes, and very hot, soapy water to scrub and clean my feeders. Having another couple of tools in the tool belt is always helpful. Thanks, Carole!

[@eldergeektromeo9868]

Cute, Carol! Thanks for another tip to add to the use of Vinegar!

[@benitocuevas5159]

Thank you for sharing you knowledge.

[@MaryW2904]

Thanks Carol! Great tip,as always!

[@justinefloresee2975]

Thank you, Carole!!! I love it! No mascara brushes here too. I appreciate your insights.

[@patchouli8899]

Good video Carole, very informative on cleaning feeders. I've explained to two neighbors how important cleaning the feeders are, now I can tell them to watch this video also

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Thanks for spreading the word. Most people really have no idea how important this is.

[@kerrykvigne9832]

Show me the video

[@nancyleigh8016]

THANK YOU Carole!! By the way, I have those feeders exact same feeders from Amazon, and this is how I discovered you and your wonderful dedication to our beautiful little hummers we love so much. I've been using old toothbrushes everyday when I wash my feeders with soap and water. I was horrified years ago when I saw that black mold ONCE and never let that happen again. We get those gorgeous big yellow finches that can drain the feeders in a few hours, and leave a lot of spores behind. This is a great tip! I use vinegar for so many other things, but never thought about this lol. Thanks again Carole.❤

[@michelebatchler9259]

Love it! I have the small feeders just like that. I use hydrogen peroxide. I may try vinegar. Than you for all of your helpful hints, Carole! I have learned so much from you! 🙂👏

[@alejandrotaudil3689]

Thanks Carol!

[@lajesq176]

Thank you for making this video. I have 20 feeders and I live in the desert southwest where the temperatures are so extreme, I have to clean and refill the feeders sometimes twice a day in the summer. I am throwing the mascara brushes out tomorrow.

[@susanjensen9937]

Thanks for the tip!

[@staufferfamily9629]

Very neat! Thank you, Carol! 🙂

[@gracevalentine1666]

Thank you 😊 what a great lady!

[@tammyhall1551]

I can't wait to try it!

[@gingerhipszky228]

Excellent tip Carole!! Thank you for making this instructional video!! I love these type of videos too, as there will be a lot of healthier hummingbirds out there.

[@enjoythemomentlifestyle]

Great advice for keeping the black mold from growing on my feeder. 😊

[@jan3923]

Thank you from Ontario Canada! My first visitor has come around today....I hear him but he's still shy! Soaking feeders in vinegar now and making the feed ( no dye ). But now I will keep a spray bottle handy filled with vinegar.

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Much easier!

[@claudiaweldon9460]

Ok thanks for your help

[@karenc.3689]

Excellent tip. Thank you

[@annhayes8596]

Great advice for those feeders. I will keep my pack of mascara wands, as I have feeders with rubber ports that keep the bees out of the nectar, and feeders that use nectar guards ( Aspect's). Living near a commercial bee keeper, your feeders would be swarmed. I donated all of my slit port feeders to the local Nature Station and friends who do not have bee issues.

[@ricktruett166]

Thank you for this great advice.

[@debbiehorton8470]

That is such a good tip. And I need to clean and refill mine now.

[@dh7139]

Great tip Carol! You have motivated me to feed hummingbirds. I live in the Northern California Bay Area and now, finally I have defeated my bullies with 5 feeders. All day long constant parade of my little piglets I call them . I'm going through 1-2 32 ounce feeders every other day. This will definitely save me time as I thoroughly clean them when filling. Thanks for the tip

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Wonderful!

[@OVW]

Cool thank you got the tip. I was wondering what the black stuff was. I wash it off every time. But not anymore thanks to you ☺️👍

[@gracie2298]

Oh boy, can’t wait till next spring, cause living in the south it’s called Humidity. Than you Carole! Have been using a small nail brush which will be hitting the bin today.

[@annettevanallen3987]

Thank you for all the great tips you have. I've noticed that you don't unscrew the bottle from the port base. I have found black mold growing in the threads of the bottle and base, which of course gets a thorough cleaning!

[@HummingbirdSpot]

That's why I said that this tip doesn't take the place of taking your feeders apart and cleaning them thoroughly inside and out. But spraying the holes each time you fill the feeder will prevent the mold from growing in the ports.

[@curiouslass4280]

Thank you!! Awesome!! I will be doing this for sure!!

[@connielazzaro856]

Hi Carol ... I love your videos !!! Thank you for sharing very informative and helpful tips about our beloved Hummingbirds !!! Very educational too ... I will use the vinegar and rinse like you showed ... Thanks again Carol !!! 🌻💜

[@emhumm]

You always have great information about hummingbirds. Thank you for the tip!

[@diannebunnell1962]

Thank you so much for that tip. These hummers have been running me ragged trying to keep up! Of course, I found this toward the end of the year but will help next year.

[@amy5714]

Thank you for the educational video Carole. You are so knowledgeable and your explanation is so thorough and clear. Thank you for taking the time to share your tips with your viewers.

[@julieb3019]

Is it any kind of vinegar?

[@christopherrichardd]

i'm going to try this! thanks, carol

[@lizbrowne6481]

this is a great tip! thanks

[@lindaincolorado7854]

Thank you so much for this. I have been so concerned that there might be mold that I was not aware of even though I clean my feeders every day or two. Now, I will use the vinegar to prevent the mold from growing.

[@SugarDad1]

Thank you Carole, for sharing valuable information with everyone. I will take this tip and incorporate it into my cleaning routine. You have saved me time, I appreciate you!

[@hayesch1]

Great! This helped me so much! Thanks!! Subscribed

[@susanleezer182]

Thank you 🙏 Carole, this was very informative. Great secrets !!!

[@tessanicholl1455]

So glad I found this channel! How do I stop wasps from taking over my hummingbird feeder?

[@hikingwiththedog6078]

I heard putting peppermint oil near feeders repels bees and wasps, and I've tried it, and it works. Never put the peppermint oil directly on the feeders, because it's toxic to the hummingbirds. I smear lots of it on the window frame that's next to my feeders, (it's about 8 inches away from the feeders). The smell of peppermint is strong and bees and wasps don't like it. But hummingbirds can't smell, so they don't mind it. I get little bottles of peppermint oil at the health food store. Another thing I do is get those glass traps that are shaped like beehives, and you put apple juice concentrate in the trap and hang it about 5-10 feet away from the hummingbird feeders, and those do a good job trapping the wasps. It's so frustrating seeing hummingbirds driven away from their feeders by wasps! I sympathize!

[@lisaflowers3608]

Can't wait to do this the next time I bring my feeders in to clean!!

[@debicaron6046]

Great tip..thanks

[@francinajohnson5716]

Thank you for tip!

[@CindyColson-r1w]

Thank you so much for that tip! I go crazy trying to clean those little ports! I am wondering, a new feeder, should I use Dawn dish soap? Thank you for your time!

[@HummingbirdSpot]

I'm not sure who started this Dawn dish soap craze everyone seems to be hot on (could it be the company?) but vinegar OR hydrogen peroxide OR dilute clorox are the best ways to clean the feeders. Here is a link to an earlier video I did describing this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6abYmyFn6l1hLs

[@junestephens1079]

Excellent advice! Thank you.

[@hhairball9]

Wow! Thank you!

[@patti8732]

Thanks for this tip. I enjoy my hummers so much, I try to always keep the feeders nice & clean. I wouldn’t want to eat off a dirty plate….I don’t think they want to either. 😊

[@baechel1]

Great post - thanks Carol!

[@lorriesparks930]

Awesome, thank you. I read there's 363 kins. Good luck. The new one has gold hue...how cool.

[@christopherleenknecht920]

Great tip.We're only running 7 feeders,we just clean refill every night.

[@HummingbirdSpot]

The spray bottle makes things so much easier!

[@AniFam]

This is wonderful information!!👍 Thank you for sharing this video~🤗

[@glenncarlson3161]

Good, I have been using vinegar to clean my feeders already. Nice

[@connietowler3725]

Great tip. I clean and refill my feeders twice a week, I will remember this, using vinegar 🙂 I think my Hummers are getting ready to fly South, Lower Michigan here 😢 They are emptying the feeders, have three. Sure will miss them, so fun to watch😕

[@wolfbranchhomestead]

I know your first video definitely changed my whole approach on cleaning feeders but this one goes in depth more. I always keep the vinegar bottle at the sink to spray ours with. I don’t know if you know by chance, but with eventual deterioration of plastic, how long is it recommended to keep a plastic feeder before replacing? Thanks for an informative video will definitely share it

[@dennishassler605]

I have NEVER seen any black mold on any of my feeders, but I do occasionally get bugs. I use a vinegar solution. Recently, I went from 10 hummingbirds to 20 hummingbirds in just a few days - they must be migrating, so I am adding feeders to keep them all fed - maybe they'll stay where there is nectar (I hope). I'm in Arizona in the Superstitions. I have only two varieties, but they are amazing.

[@JillSmith-xn9by]

Thank you for the info!

[@mvel1314]

Thanks! I never knew about the vinegar, and I will start using it to clean my 2 feeders which are the exact same as yours.

[@SallyCoucke]

Thanks for sharing.

[@suedmartin3804]

So informative.

[@festive101]

Great tip thank you so much

[@micahlouise9539]

I have been using vinegar for years! Really works well. I am ordering some feeders like yours. My fancy glass ones are pretty but the protective paint has come off the metal, I don't want use them any more. Thanks!

[@andreawiener1687]

Thank you for your tips!!! Going home soon to deep clean w vinegar!

[@RandiG63]

Thank You 🙏🏻 Thank You I live in south Florida and thats my biggest problem.

[@IHeartAfrica22]

omg, thanks! I use the same feeders.

[@markhetz1119]

Great tips 👍

[@marilynmiller4032]

Thank you, good tip.

[@janeswire8351]

Thanks great idea.

[@brandandtoninone4210]

So much easier Thank you

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Glad it helped

[@holleyandrews4019]

Thank you!!!

[@damonbingham8278]

Thank you that’s good to know

[@leoayala131]

Hi Carol, would you consider making a gear/setting related video? The lens you'd recommend on a trip for hummingbird photography, what you take with you, video settings for video clips of hummers, your preferred camera settings, etc. Your photos are so impressive, I know I personally would enjoy your advice and insight on gear and settings. Especially because I have a trip to Costa Rica coming up in November. Thanks for considering! Leo

[@sallydavidson4471]

You could actually send the clean mascara brushes to wildlife rescue organizations as they use them to clean birds after an oil spill!

[@karengrice2303]

Thank you! I do use vinegar to clean my feeders and I also wipe down and rinse my bird baths with vinegar to make sure they are sanitized too. Thanks for the tips! I bought an additional saucer shaped feeder because it is easier to clean, but I am having trouble with earwigs getting inside of it. I am not sure how to prevent this problem. Let me know if you have any tips on this issue.

[@jimr7398]

HELP ! I waited too long to clean my 2 plastic feeders (with the 4 little yellow flowers on each) I cleaned off a lot of the black mold but can't open one of them to get to the important area that needs to be cleaned. I soaked everything in HOT water and lots of Dawn soap. Can anything remove the black mold by soaking? Should I just toss both and buy new ones? These aren't very old. THANK YOU !! What is the easiest feeder to clean if I don't care about little flowers ?? THANK YOU !!

[@TonyAndersonMusic]

Someone help me here - based in LA. I have never seen black mold or any other forms of mold inside my feeders. This is surprising based on most videos I watch in which people feel the need to clean their feeders daily or multiple times a week. I also don’t replace the nectar more than once a week even when it’s hot outside. The nectar still smells fine up to a week later and the birds still drink it. There’s nothing discolored or off about the nectar when I pour the excess out. So why do I not have this mold that I hear about all the time? I use 5 separate bolite glass feeders on my property and I make nectar using 1 part sugar and 4 parts water.

[@PyroPolo]

If you change and clean once a week you may not get black mold. If you go much longer I bet you will eventually. Some feeders are worse than others in particular around the holes where they drink. As Carole stated disinfecting is key to keeping it from starting.

[@jacquelines3685]

Tony Anderson SAME!! I have 6 hummingbird feeders out right now. I clean and fill them every Sunday Morning with soap & water and a Vinegar rinse. I've never had black mold ever! The once a week cleaning works for me and my Hummingbird's come back year after year to my feeder's 😊

[@girlygal098]

California isn't humid like, say, Louisiana. The humidity can sometimes get to 100% without rain. Mold is rampant.

[@IHeartAfrica22]

@@girlygal098 but I am just a bit south of Los Angeles and definitely get the black mold, and I rinse and refill daily. ugh, lots of scrubbing.

[@PyroPolo]

@@IHeartAfrica22 Try 100% vinegar and let it sit for 20 or 30 minutes. I used to get it, but not any more.

[@prescotthenry1727]

We have been using vinegar. It does seem to keep the feeders clear of the black mold. This tip not only makes cleaning easier, it also gives us peace of mind that our artificial feeders are not introducing a danger to our hummer friends. Have not had bats at our feeders so far this year. They seem to bring mold with them.

[@TRoussele]

So helpful. Thank you. I have been doing research on best hummingbird feeders as I am new to this and always do a bit of research when venturing into new experiences. I came across the following comment "I wasn’t aware that the dead hummingbirds I’d found around my feeder were dying as a result of my glass feeder. I’ve since learned that glass feeders quickly turn the sugar to alcohol and mold. While plastic isn’t environmentally friendly, it’s safer for hummingbirds"- Is this true? I was going for glass as I figured it is safer of course but now I am confused.....Help!

[@julietollari4526]

Thank you very much for this fantastic tip. Do you spray the ports with vinegar before you wash the entire feeder? Or is it sprayed on the ports, rinsed then reassembled? 😎

[@pmcw]

Your videos of great! So informative. I have a glass feeder with white flower. I can’t remove the red and clear bottoms. It’s really tight and no matter how much I turn, it looks like nothing is happening. It’s really stuck. How do I get it unstuck so I can open and clean? Thank you.

[@HummingbirdSpot]

You probably can't get it unstuck. It is probably permanently sealed. Unfortunately, many hummingbird feeders are designed for humans rather than hummingbirds. If they look pretty to our eyes, they sell. I can only suggest you give up the feeder and get one that you can take apart and easily clean.

[@pmcw]

@@HummingbirdSpot thank you. I'll look at the ones you posted.

[@carolouimet2851]

i just love this may i ask are you using the white vinegar or the other

[@HummingbirdSpot]

I use vinegar most of the time, but sometimes I just don’t feel like smelling vinegar so I use the peroxide. They both work, but peroxide is more expensive.

[@verthosand]

Thank you so much for this great tip. I was also wondering… I adore in your T-shirt and as I went to your website all I see is the colored hummingbirds on the T-shirts. Are you still offering the noncolored hummingbird on your T-shirts? By the way I love all your videos. It is such an amazing journey to see all of those hummingbirds.

[@HummingbirdSpot]

The black hummingbird line will be appearing shortly.

[@cathy800]

Thank u for the great tip. Does it matter if vinigar is white or apple cider? Thank you.

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Not really. White is usually used for cleaning, but it really doesn't matter.

[@id10t98]

I rarely see anything about ants invading your feeders. Do you use ant moats or some other way to keep them out?

[@HummingbirdSpot]

I use ant moats when I have a problem.

[@cynthiafortnerphd4281]

Ant moats and/or a glop of Vaseline at the top of the chain or hook (well away from hummingbird wings). Works wonders!!

[@WhoAmI_369]

Thank you! Very useful information. I'm wondering about wispy strands floating around in my feeder from the sugar water. What is it and is it harmful?! It happens maybe a couple days after cleaning and adding fresh sugar water. 🧚‍♀️

[@YourMissMarianne]

Did anyone answer this about the wispy strands? I've noticed the same thing and wondered if it was just the cheap sugar I was buying.

[@WalkingbytheSpiritAlways]

Hi, I was using diluted vinegar in a spray bottle, so it's interesting you say to use it full strength. I have also wondered about using rubbing alcohol or diluted bleach. I am guessing the diluted bleach is difficult to rinse clean right? I have six glass feeders that are the blown glass designs and I am changing out the nectar every two or three days because it gets cloudy, but I only have two or three hummingbirds. I have lots of hummingbird flowers like salvias that they use, but not much activity at the feeders. So mostly I am just filling and throwing away nectar every couple of days. I put these feeders up in March and now it's June hoping to get more this year. Do you have any ideas? I did have three plastic tray types up earlier in the spring, but they didn't get any attention and kept breaking. Do you not have bee problems with your feeder? Thank you.

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Only put a little bit in the feeder and change it EVERY DAY. Sugar solutions spoil rapidly in the heat. The hummingbirds won’t touch it if there is bacteria and that is what makes it cloudy.

[@WalkingbytheSpiritAlways]

@@HummingbirdSpot Thank you.

[@Conniehdz94]

I hope this works for me. I clean mine with bleach like I read on the internet and the very next day it has mold again. I live in Texas so it’s very hot here. I clean my feeders daily so let’s see if this works!

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Good luck!

[@christinelazarides8916]

Great tips, is it white vinegar?

[@HummingbirdSpot]

Yes, it is