Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Home Maintenance

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The best bird baths for your patio or garden

By

A bird bath is the best way to brighten up your day, as well as the local wild birds. A nice-looking decorative bird bath also makes your garden look more accomplished and feel welcoming to any guests, feathered or not. To help you find the right design, we’ve listed the top choices here.

If you need ideas for a bird bath, we suggest a few classic styles. A bird bath fountain is a popular modern style. It’s typically powered by the sun, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of constantly replacing batteries. The more traditional style is a pedestal bird bath composed of the base, the column, and the top bowl.

A hanging bird bath, on the other hand, is great for smaller birds and is hung by a hook via three chains locked onto a bowl. Let’s check out which style fits your tastes.

Quenta Free Standing 1.4W Bird Bath Fountain Pump

Best Eco-friendly

The Quenta bath is a solar-powered model that won’t eat up electricity or battery juice. This eco-friendly alternative to other styles is a great choice if you already have a water fountain but need a special accessory to spray water. This pump includes four different spray nozzles that vary in water height and spray shape. You might also use this for pools, ponds, and aquariums.

VIVOHOME Antique Green Bird Bath

Best Classic Vibe

VIVOHOME’s bird bath is a pedestal-style emulating antique, European designs. A bronzed patina and a scroll base details make this an elegant addition to your yard. Though it looks heavy duty and is made to last, it’s lightweight enough to carry, assemble, and disassemble easily. Covered in a resin coating, this model won’t fade, break, or dent easily.

Best Choice Products Outdoor Pedestal Bird Bath With Sparrow Statues

Best for Attracting Wildlife

The Best Choice Products bath is a lavish pedestal structure complete with two bird figures that attract new wildlife. Made from weather-resistant resin, you can leave it out in the yard year-round for visiting birds. To keep it extra stable, fill the column with water or another heavy material like sand. The bath stands 32 inches tall overall.

Birdbaths provide visiting fowl a place to relax, socialize, and play. In exchange for this treat, they might do your garden some favors like keeping insect populations in check and protecting your lawn from pests. To ensure your bird bath will last years, we listed weather-resistant, durable models that will fight through the elements no matter what.

21Oak Contributor
21Oak Contributor
21Oak Contributor
How to clean your gross bathroom in 20 minutes flat
This overused space deserves a deep refresh
A clean bathroom

You want your bathroom to be a spa-like retreat, but it sees a lot of use throughout the week. While it's best to freshen as you go to prevent a build-up of dirt and grime, sometimes it just needs a deep clean. The thought of diving into the sink, toilet, and shower can be a bit overwhelming, though, especially at the end of a long week.

Take a deep breath — there's no need to fear. By tackling your dirty bathroom in stages, you can clean your bathroom, from top to bottom, in 20 minutes flat. We'll walk through all the tips and tricks you need to scrub your bathroom and still have time left on your podcast.
How to clean a bathroom: Step by step

Read more
How to eliminate that musty ‘basement’ smell
Mold and mildew are big basement problems, but they can be solved
Finished basement with wood paneling

Do you avoid spending time in your basement because of its unpleasant odors? Whether it's finished or not, basements are typically cool, damp, and have little airflow going through them, which are all factors that contribute to its musty smell. Unfortunately, it takes more than general cleaning practices and air fresheners to rid the space of mustiness for good. Take a look at some of these tried-and-true methods for how to get rid of musty smell in basement spaces, so you can keep it smelling light, airy, and fresh.
1. Find the culprit of the musty smell

If you smell that common musty stench, the culprit is often mold or mildew. Since basements tend to be damp and have little airflow, they are common hot spots for mold and mildew growth. The first step in preventing further growth by sealing any leaky spots and inefficient drains.
Leaking windows and doors
Check your basement's exterior doors and windows for signs of moisture. Since leaks on the first floor can often drain into the basement, check the windows and doors on the main floor as well. If you find moisture around these entry points from rain or condensation, re-seal the area or call a professional to repair it.
Leaking pipes
Whether pipes are visible in your basement or not, you need to check them regularly for leaks. Examine any water and sewage pipes for signs of leaks and repair any cracks or poor seals. If plumber's tape or epoxy putty can't repair the leak, it's time to call a professional.
Dried-up drains
Basement floor drains direct water out of the home to keep the floors dry and prevent them from flooding. The stagnant water in this drain also traps bad odors emanating from the sewage system below. However, these drains can dry up from infrequent use, releasing stench into the air. If you notice smells arising near your floor drains, just pour a few cups of water into the drain to block the gases from escaping.
2. Clean up the basement

Read more
How to fix laminate countertops without calling a professional
You may not need to hire the pros to get your counters looking new
Modern kitchen with porcelain countertops

If your laminate countertops are stained, dated, cracked, or damaged, they can be an eyesore. If you want to give your kitchen or bathroom a quick DIY facelift, addressing a drab-looking countertop is a great first step. If you feel your countertop is salvageable with some DIY love, however, here's how to fix laminate countertops without calling a professional.

While some minor damage or basic refinishing can go a long way, there is a certain point where the damage should be addressed by a professional. If your countertop has major cracks or stains and damage covering a large portion of the surface, it may be a good idea to call in some help to repair or replace it entirely.
Removing stains

Read more