A bird table with a hinged roof or door stands outdoors all year round, and rain, snow, dew and temperature swings soon take their toll. Metal hinges collect dust and dirt, then rust, and the lid starts to squeak, open stiffly or jam altogether. The noise scares birds away, and a rusted hinge eventually just breaks.
Looking after the hinges takes a few minutes and is worth doing twice a year: in autumn before the feeding season and again in spring.
What you will need
Important: Before you start, remove all food and seed from the bird table and cover the feeding tray. Apply lubricant only to the metal of the hinges, never to surfaces where food sits, and wipe off all excess. Only refill with fresh food once everything is dry.
Step 1
Empty the bird table and inspect the hinges
Tip out leftover food and brush away husks and droppings. Open the roof or door a few times and listen for exactly where it squeaks or sticks. Check whether the hinge screws have worked loose in the wood and tighten them if needed.
Step 2
Clean stiff hinges
If the hinges are stiff, find the cause first: usually it is built-up dirt and dust. Spray the hinge generously with WD-40 Smart Straw through the straw. It loosens dirt and old grease and lubricates the pivot at the same time. Wipe away anything that runs off.
Step 3
Remove the rust
If orange rust has appeared on the hinges, spray it with WD-40 Multi-Use, leave it for a few minutes and scrub the metal with a toothbrush. Once the rust has gone, give the hinge another light spray to remove residue and lubricate it again.
Step 4
Lubricate and work the hinges
Apply a small amount of lubricant right into the hinge pivot and open and close the lid several times to spread it. For a bird table in an exposed spot where the hinges are constantly rained and snowed on, you can add a thin coat of White Lithium Grease, which is water-resistant and stays on the metal longer.
Wipe all excess off the metal and the wood.
Step 5
Let it dry and refill
Leave the bird table to air until the surfaces are dry and any smell has gone. Wipe the feeding tray with a clean damp cloth, and only then put fresh food out.
Tip: If the bird table is wooden, treat it once a year with an exterior wood preserver, but only on the outside. Leave the inner surfaces where food sits untreated.
What next
Check the hinges in autumn, before winter feeding starts, and in spring after the snow melts. The same approach works for a garden gate, a nest box with a hinged side or a compost bin lid.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».