Cleaning wild bird feeders

[shivvy]

I have a lot of feeders in my garden - peanut, niger, seed, sunflower etc but they are all looking a bit tatty and in need of a good clean. I usually clean one one week and then another the following week etc and I do it by hand.
Unfortunately I have to admit that it is a job that I hate because the feeders can be really fiddly to wash and awkward to dry however I would like to give them all a really good wash.

Then, as I was filling them today, I wondered if it would be ok to put them all through the dishwasher?!! I think the dishwasher would really clean them up, it would dry them off well and it would mean that I could do them all in one night so that I could take them down after dark and have them all back up early the next day.

My main concern however is the health aspect of it. I know that bird poo contains nasties/bacteria which can be harmful to humans so is my idea really stupid and revolting or might it be ok?

[follyfancier]

I would never put anything from outdoors into a dishwasher ,no no no .
we clean ours with a power washer

[shivvy]

I thought it would be a no no - but because it came into my head I thought I'd seek others opinions. Thanks for your answer.

[what..the?]

no I wouldn't clean them that way but brush out with an old tooth brush soak in a mix of boiling hot water and fairy liquid, brush again, rinse and hang up to dry outside or on the drainer?

[ethandron]

i would say a definate no no too, but i do know someone who puts their tent pegs through the dishwasher!