Even though I live outside a major city, we still have well water with a high mineral content (which we do get tested every couple of years and also to check for e coli and other bad things). Unfortunately, the water really stains the bathroom porcelain and the white containers in my bird cages in which I put their daily water. I have tried removing the buildup (occurs easily within a day) and putting vinegar and cola in the containers but it doesn't do a very good job, residue remains. I am terrified of using bleach and go through several containers a year when I give up on scrubbing. I did send an e-mail to the major supplier of bird products but they were not helpful, I believe they said to use soap and water. Any ideas, thanks.

Baking Soda, and a little bit of salt as an abrasive, let it sit for a couple hours and then scour it out.

:bluebudgie: Thanks for the help Lovey, I am a happy camper using all natural products. I thought Cola might work as I have heard people dump it into their toilets but it barely made a difference to the water containers. :fear

cola is not natural unfortunely :bluebudgie:

Phoebe if you can get this AVICLENS in Canada or some thing close it will help with the cleaning and the safety of the birds. I use it. 0.5ml will do a litre of water so it goes a long way. :bluebudgie:

Edited April 8, 200619 yr by daz

You are definately right on that one! :(Laughing out loud): I just thought I would give it a try over bleach as we can't drink bleach but we can cola but if cola can clean toilets, what is it doing to our stomachs :fear

 

Thanks a lot Daz, will check that out, I really like Lovey's idea as everything is all natural. :bluebudgie:

Yeah I with Lovey Baking Soda and vinegar. They react together and go all bubbly :bluebudgie: I've used this to clean my bathroom before it works well.

In fact if you boil hot water and put the baking soda and vinegar down the drain 1 a month it breaks up your clogs (along with any plunging) and keeps it free of debris. We don't use drain cleaner here - way too dangerous with my kids and pets.

Some really good tips going on here... :sad: I'll have to give some a try!!

Yes, after doing the baking soda thing am now about to do the salt thing and will report back tomorrow. :sad:

THANK YOU LOVEY!!!! The dishes cleaned up beautifully and are almost perfect, will go over any tiny areas left with an old toothbrush again.

What worked? Just the salt, or the baking soda followed by the salt? Let me know if it keeps that build up of gunk off for longer too, please

:ausb: I put some baking soda and hot water in the containers, left them overnight, emptied the water out and then added salt which I brush scrubbed for the remaining residue and then gave them a good rinse, best they have looked in a long, long time!

Edited April 10, 200619 yr by Phoebe

And I just added some salt to a container which had been soaking all day in baking soda, scrubbed it, rinsed it and voila! I knew my containers were clean but they were discolored and I am a bit anal about dirt and poop but I am very happee now, thanks again Lovey! (guess it doesn't take much to make me happy)

cool I'm giving that a good next time I clean mine. I just have to find that old toothbrush...then again I'm sure my borther wouldn't mine me using his

We have a stack of unused toothbrushes because when we were little the dentist would give us crappy free toothbrushes after every visit. :(Laughing out loud): They all get used for scrubbing birdy stuff.

Glad it worked, I will have to tell my mom she was right again :

I am a little fussy about toothbrushes, and after seeing an article on the amount of bacteria they carry, I get a new one every 3 months (new season new toothbrush! ), and boil it every week!!! I have a great pile of pre-loved toothbrushes that are great for scrubbing bird poop off perches, toys, swings, water bowls, bars, grates, trays and wherever else it lands!!! Great idea using the baking soda and salt, would never have thought of it myself!

excellent advice Riebe - boiling is excellent for killing germs. When I get new shells for my hermit crabs I also boil them and cool them down before I offer them a new home.

:hap: Did another couple containers last night and they look great, Nerwen, how COULD you use your brother's toothbrush! and Riebe, I change mine every couple of months.

:devil: cuase he is my brother..

 

I love the boiling idea might have to start doing that myself now too. I known boiled water kills weeds safely and quickly.

Edited April 10, 200619 yr by Nerwen

You are so bad Nerwen! :devil: I agree, boiling doesn't hurt anything and can only help.

:glare: I felt the need to resurrect this topic as it such a good one. We are having a heat wave here and my well water is getting not too pleasant (sample off for testing but I am sure it is fine). Unfortunately it stains the white plastic containers and Lovey's recipe of cornstarch and salt just cleans them wonderfully without a whole lot of scrubbing!

baking soda (correctioin :glare:) and salt

:ausb:I even have the container labelled budgie soda for cleaning, guess the heat has addled my brain! Thanks Lovey! :glare: (get it from the bulk bins at the grocery store and put it in with my bird supplies).

Edited May 17, 200619 yr by Phoebe