Disassemble the Feeder: Start by carefully disassembling the feeder. Remove the reservoir, feeding ports, perches, and any other removable parts.
Rinse with Hot Water: Rinse all parts of the feeder thoroughly with hot water to remove any remaining nectar, debris, or mold. Use a bottle brush or small brush to scrub inside the reservoir and feeding ports.
Soak in Vinegar Solution: Prepare a cleaning solution by mixing one part white vinegar with four parts water. Submerge the disassembled feeder parts in the vinegar solution and let them soak for at least 15-20 minutes.
Scrub and Rinse Again: After soaking, scrub the feeder parts again with a bottle brush or sponge to loosen any remaining residue. Rinse each part thoroughly with hot water to remove the vinegar solution and any loosened debris.
Sanitize with Bleach Solution: Soaking the feeder in diluted bleach is an optional way to clean it. Mix one part bleach with nine parts water and soak feeder components for 5-10 minutes. To eliminate bleach residue, rinse well with hot water.
Air Dry Completely: After cleaning, let the feeder pieces air dry before reassembling and refilling it with nectar. Moisture promotes mold and bacteria development, so remove it.
Reassemble and Refill: After drying, reassemble the feeder's reservoir, feeding ports, and other parts. Fill the feeder with homemade nectar (sugar water) and hang it exactly to the positioning suggestions.