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So you made the super smart choice to get an essential oil diffuser for your home and skip out on the hazards of artificial fragrances–nicely done! As you’re probably discovering, essential oils are so versatile in the ways they can be used in your home, and diffusing oils is one of the very easiest ways to benefit from them.
If you’re using your diffuser(s) on the regular, it’s just a matter of time before you notice that it needs to be cleaned. I remember 4 years ago when I first got my doTERRA starter kit. I got busy diffusing different blends in my new diffuser, day and night, not realizing I might need to clean it at some point. I don’t think it’s very obvious actually, since all you put into it is water and essential oils.
Nevertheless, after a few weeks, I noticed a yellowish, oily film inside my diffuser, as well as some hard, white build-up. The slick film inside really isn’t as gross as it looks. It’s just an accumulation of all the different oils you’ve been diffusing. The white crusty stuff, if you have it, is a build-up from the minerals in your water. If you don’t clean your diffuser regularly, these oils and minerals will continue to build up and eventually affect how well your diffuser works.
Everyday Diffuser Love (Maintenance)
In order to keep your diffuser working like new, there are a couple of things you can do on a daily basis.
First, after your diffuser is finished running, turn it off, wipe it out with a clean cloth (avoid touching the delicate membrane at the bottom), and leave the lid off so it can dry thoroughly before the next use. This simple step will:
- Keep hard water deposits from forming in your diffuser, and
- Improve the purity of your diffused oils since you won’t have traces of the previous blend mixing with the current blend
The other simple thing you should do every time you use your diffuser is to be careful not to overfill it. Check the instructions so you know the maximum fill level of your diffuser and stay below that with your water level.
Cleaning Your Essential Oil Diffuser
To clean your diffuser, you only need a few things that you probably already have at home.
Supplies
- white vinegar
- water
- soft cloth
- liquid castile soap (optional)
Steps to Deep Clean Your Diffuser
Time needed: 7 minutes.
Follow these steps to deep clean your diffuser.
- Add water/vinegar solution to the diffuser.
Fill your diffuser about halfway to the max fill level with water and add 1/8 teaspoon of white vinegar. Put the top back on.
- Allow the solution to work through your diffuser.
Run your diffuser for 3-4 minutes.
- Turn off and unplug your diffuser.
Remove the top. DO NOT dump out the remaining vinegar water in the diffuser.
- Wipe down the inside of the diffuser.
With your cloth, gently wipe the inside of your diffuser, removing any build-up or oil residue. Use extra care around the membrane at the bottom. If needed, use a cotton swab for the small crevices and corners.
- Rinse.
Empty the vinegar/water solution from the diffuser and rinse with 2-3 changes of plain water. Make sure to keep the electrical input and buttons dry.
- Clean the top portion of your diffuser.
I find it easiest to wash it in the sink with castile soap and a soft cloth. As an alternative, you can use straight vinegar and wipe it down with your cloth.
- Allow to dry completely.
Then, reassemble. Your diffuser will be ready to use again.
How often should you clean your essential oil diffuser?
Cleaning frequency will depend on how much you use your diffuser, your water hardness, and your specific diffuser. With normal use, you should follow the steps here about once a month to thoroughly clean your diffuser. If it tends to get visibly dirty before that, or if your diffuser gets noisy during operation, you should clean it more frequently.
And that’s all there is to keeping your diffuser clean & running like new!
How To Deep Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
Follow these steps to deep clean your essential oil diffuser.
Materials
- white vinegar
- water
- soft cloth
- liquid castile soap (optional)
Instructions
- Add water/vinegar solution to the diffuser. Fill your diffuser about halfway to the max fill level with water and add 1/8 teaspoon of white vinegar. Put the top back on.
- Allow the solution to work through your diffuser. Run your diffuser for 3-4 minutes.
- Turn off and unplug your diffuser. Remove the top. DO NOT dump out the remaining vinegar water in the diffuser.
- Wipe down the inside of the diffuser. With your cloth, gently wipe the inside of your diffuser, removing any build-up or oil residue. Use extra care around the membrane at the bottom. If needed, use a cotton swab for the small crevices and corners.
- Rinse. Empty the vinegar/water solution from the diffuser and rinse with 2-3 changes of plain water. Make sure to keep the electrical input and buttons dry.
- Clean the top portion of your diffuser. I find it easiest to wash it in the sink with castile soap and a soft cloth. As an alternative, you can use straight vinegar and wipe it down with your cloth.
- Allow to dry completely. Then, reassemble. Your diffuser will be ready to use again.
Notes
Using vinegar to clean your diffuser might void the warranty, so if you are concerned about this, check your user's manual.
If you are interested in getting started with dōTERRA , this is the essential oils starter kit with a diffuser that I recommend.
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- DIY Room Spray (w/free printable blend recipes)
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- Essential Oils to Take on Your Family Vacation
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