Daily home & garden tip: Welcome birds with a clean birdbath

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Setting out a birdbath is a friendly way to invite birds into your backyard. And as a good host, you should keep the water in your birdbath fresh.

Change it every day in the summer, when it's most frequently used.

To get rid of excess soil and grime, scrub the birdbath with a bristle brush, but don't use harsh chemical cleaners, because their residues can be harmful to the birds. If the surface becomes very grimy, add a tablespoon of bleach to a bucket of warm water, and use this solution to scour the bath. Rinse well afterward.

Looking for a birdbath to add to your yard? Consider

such as a cake can, old garbage can lid, even a Frisbee.

Or

for a base.

Check back tomorrow and the next day, when the daily tip will offer two more designs for DIY birdbaths.

-- Homes & Gardens staff

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