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Spring Cleaning

© Anne Watkins

Some of my favorite childhood memories involve my Grandma Linnie's special, once-a-year ritual. She called it 'spring cleaning' and it involved moving every stick of furniture out into the yeard, taking every item out of the cupboards, dragging any rug that wasn't nailed down out of the house, and scrubbing each room from floor to ceiling. Then it was time to clean the furniture, whack the rugs with brooms, wash and shine everything that went into the cupboards, and air out all the blankets and quilts. I vividly remember picking the yellow buttercups that were just starting to bloom at the edge of the yard while Grandma and the adults scrubbed. The arrival of those cheery yellow flowers always seemed to coincide with Grandma Linnie's spring time cleaning ritual.

Cleaning our birds' cages doesn't have to be as huge a task as Grandma Linnie's spring cleaning, but it is a job that needs to be done on a regular basis. Here are a few tips help make the chore a bit easier. Note: Before starting any cleaning session, take your bird out of the cage. Never use any cleaning products on a cage while the bird is still inside.

Those crusty cage bars. Is there dried food stuck on the bars? Are strings of hardened poop laced down the front of the cage? A solution of vinegar and water spritzed on the bars will soften the dried-on mess so that it can be wiped away. For more stubborn messes, you may have to let the spray sit and soak in for awhile. Cages can also be cleaned in a hot shower. First remove any cups, wooden perches, tray liner, or toys from the cage. Let it stand in the steamy spray for a few minutes to soften any caked-on grime. Scrub stubborn spots with a brush. If needed, wipe down bars with a bleach and water solution. Rinse thoroughly, then let air dry until all scent of bleach is gone.

Clean those grimy toys! Throw out and replace any soiled or waterlogged leather and rawhide toys. The same goes for wooden toys that can't be cleaned thoroughly. Toys that can be cleaned should be washed in hot, soapy water, or soaked in a mild bleach solution. Rinse completely and allow to dry. If any bleach smell remains, rinse again and let dry in the fresh air. Rope toys can be tossed into the washer with your family's clothing.

The copyright of the article Spring Cleaning in Companion Birds is owned by Veronica Armstrong. Permission to republish Spring Cleaning in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.