We have a fountain that drips into a 36 X 36 inch reservoir. It gets nasty - not smelly, but crud collects. My husband thought he'd found the perfect solution when he used vinegar in it. However, the surrounding flowers began to die off from the splash. I think he used regular cider vinegar. Will your distilled white vinegar be OK?

Good question since mine gets on plants too.

I can't really make that guarantee, but my birdbath is surrounded by perennials, but it is a two piece bath, so I'm able to remove the bowl and dump the old water in the yard. All I can say is that there's nothing to lose in trying DWV, since the apple cider vinegar has already done the damage, but that's totally your call...Sorry I couldn't be of much help.....

My top doesn't come off so I have to spray it out.

Yeah, in the situation, with a one piece birdbath, I don't know except perhaps after swishing out the dirty water, IMMEDIATELY spray down the surrounding plantings and soil, thoroughly, to dilute the vinegar? Let me know how it works, if you should so decide to try it, and I'll edit the article one way or another. If not, I completely understand.

When the birds use it, the vinegar water splashes on my surrounding plantings, and they're no worse for the wear, Ginny, and I don't make an extra effort to spray the plantings off, whatsoever. Not even when I change out the water! That's just too much work! ...Keep in mind, it is a VERY diluted solution though, too...

Margy said:We have a fountain that drips into a 36 X 36 inch reservoir. It gets nasty - not smelly, but crud collects. My husband thought he'd found the perfect solution when he used vinegar in it. However, the surrounding flowers began to die off from the splash. I think he used regular cider vinegar. Will your distilled white vinegar be OK?

Margy, in addition to my other comment, the vinegar water splashes on my surrounding plants from the birds using the bath, and I don't have a problem with plantings dying off as a result. It is a very diluted solution that I use, too. It's tough to compare because it's apples and oranges in design and size between a fountain vs. birdbath and the amount of splash that is produced, which can realistically run the spectrum, in regards to fountains. Also, your husband might be using a high ratio of vinegar to water? I really can only speak from my experience with birdbaths (without or vs. a fountain).

@Legalily & @Margy had either of you decided to try the vinegar in your birdbaths, this season?

I started but I really need to seal mine since it's limestone and hard to work with. Too heavy to dump it so I've just been trying to keep my head above water for the time being I put it in twice and no plant damage so far though.

And Dana - I'd be embarrassed to even show you my bird bath right now - the dog thing's it's her water source too

Lol! No worries, Ginny!