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Disinfecting Bird Feeders

The ratio of bleach to water that has been shown to be effective for killing germs/disinfecting is 3 tablespoons bleach to 1 quart water (equivalent to 3/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon water, but only mix up what you'll need to use at one time). Mold spores are harder to kill, and State Department of Health recommends 4 tablespoons per quart (1 cup per gallon) for this purpose. So a mixture in the 3-4 tablespoons of chlorine bleach per quart of water range will be effective.

Please note that it is most effective to SOAK the feeders, as the bleach solution must be in contact with the surfaces for longer than it would be if just washed ("I soak mine for about 1 hour, just to be safe," says Helen Engle).

Thanks to Helen Engle of Tacoma and Ken Steffenson, Information and Education Services, Washington Toxics Coalition of Seattle for this advice.