Fall 
 

·        It's pretty easy to tell when the birds are done nesting as there will be no activity around the birdhouse. When baby birds are in there you will see the mother flying in with food quite frequently. If you think the nest is empty go over and tap on the box and if you hear nothing its okay to take it down and clean out. 
 

·        Thoroughly clean birdhouse as detailed below:
 

o       Wear rubber gloves
 

o       Using a soft brush or rag to wash with a bucket of warm water and a small amount of scent-free liquid soap or detergent 
 

o       Empty the bucket and refill with warm water and a couple of cups of white distilled vinegar and wash it again. Use an old toothbrush to clean the hard to reach areas
 

o       Rinse gently with a garden hose
 

o       Let dry, before reuse 
 

·        If you have evidence of parasites or mice you will need to disinfect.  After cleaning as detailed above open all drain and vent holes.  Disinfect birdhouses by spraying them with a 10% bleach solution (one part bleach, nine parts water). Leave all holes and doors open for 24 hours to allow to dry before closing back up 
 

Late Winter or Early Spring 

 

·        It is time to check your birdhouse again.  If you cleaned your birdhouses out in the fall, make sure they are ready for the return of your nesting birds.  You can simply scrape the insides of the birdhouses and wash them out with a sharp stream of water 
 

·        If you did not clean in the Fall, have evidence of parasites or fungus, or mice made there home there over the winter; follow instructions above for thoroughly cleaning your birdhouse 
 

Other notes

 

·        Keep all left over backyard barbecue equipments clean and keep pet foods inside the house so as not to attract animals to your backyard  
 

·        Do not dispose of the old nesting materials close to the birdhouse as this may attract predators. 
 

·        It is unwise to use bug spray inside the birdhouse.