Gardeners urged to put washing up liquid on bird tables

It's that time of year when the weather gets colder and wetter and we tend to go out into our gardens less and less.

But a lot of British birds will keep on visiting our outdoor spaces over the autumn and winter - and in fact, will need more help than ever to deal with the cold, dark weather conditions.

But you might end up doing birds more harm than good if you feed them on dirty bird tables or invite them to nest in grimy and grubby bird boxes.

That's why garden experts are urging people to use washing up liquid on their bird tables this month - in order to make sure you're not inadvertently spreading disease when you leave out vital food supplies for the birds this autumn and winter.

Garden experts Home and Roost explain: "You may be asking why you need to bother cleaning your bird table. No one cleans the bushes your birds eat off or the grass they pick worms out of, do they? Surely birds are used to a bit of dirt, isn't it just nature?

"Well, your bird table is different. If you have put out plenty of food and attracted a wide range of birds, your bird table will be a busy place.

"Many birds of different species will visit. They will be coming into closer contact with one another than they ever would in the wild. There may be old food hanging around going mouldy. There will be bird poop. This might get mixed in with the food.

"When you consider all of this, it's easy to see why your bird table needs thorough and regular cleaning. A dirty bird table can endanger the very birds you are trying to help by spreading diseases. It's not going to look or smell great either. And failing to care for your bird table can shorten its life."

But Fairy liquid - or indeed any brand of washing up liquid - can be used as a quick and cheap way to solve the problem.

Home and Roost adds: "Once a month, or more often if your table is jam-packed, give your bird table a good scrubbing.

"Use a pair of gloves for this, gardening gloves or washing up gloves you keep just for this task. It's rare for birds to spread diseases to humans, but better to be safe.

"You will need a bucket of hot water with either washing up liquid or bleach added. If using bleach, keep the solution weak: one part bleach to 10 parts water. You will also need a stiff brush.

"First, brush off any old food. Then give the table a good scrub to remove any caked-on bird food, poop or other nasties. Get into all the corners, cracks and crevices with your brush. These are where bacteria and germs like to breed.

"Don't forget to clean the outside of the table too - I am sure you have seen birds perching there.

"Once you are finished scrubbing, give the table a rinse with fresh water. At this stage, you could also treat the table with some pet-friendly antibacterial spray, just to be on the safe side and kill off any nasties that you might have missed. Allow it to fully dry.

Before you put your table back, take a look at the ground underneath. If it's caked with bird poop, it could be a good idea to replace it in a new position and give the ground time to recover."