Cleaning hummingbird feeders - help please

[Flaxbee]

I have two narrow feeders that are designed to go into flower planters but that I have instead hung from our porch roof. They're about 1 inch wide, maybe a little more, and 6 inches long with a screw-on base that has the plastic feeding flower.

I was gone for three days and didn't get a chance to clean and rinse them as I usually do daily; now there is mold growing on the inside of one of the tubes; some soap, water and q-tipping have removed most of the mold but there is still some clinging to the inside of the tube, and some I can't reach with a q-tip.

Any suggestions on how to best remove it? Is there a solution I can use other than soap and water?

Thanks for any help!

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Put some uncooked rice in the feeder along with some soapy water and shake it around.

The rice acts as an abrasive without scratching and reaches into the tiniest places to remove crud.

[Flaxbee]

5. thanks - I'll try this first before the bleach option ...

appreciate the help!

[Scuba]

2. Vinegar or a very mild bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly before using.

[Flaxbee]

6. thanks - will try this second if the rice and soapy water don't work

[Chakaconcarne]

3. try rock salt and rubbing alcohol...

And shake it about.

[Flaxbee]

7. sounds similar to the rice and soapy water deal

thank you! will keep this in my arsenal of options.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I always cleaned mine

with a bleach solution and pipe cleaners. I don't use bleach often, but there are some things that it is the easiest thing to use. Mold is one of those things that I use it for.

[Flaxbee]

8. I don't have any straight bleach in the house, but if the mold proves too stubborn for

the other options, I'll give it a go. Thanks, Curmudgeoness.