How to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
Cleaning your diffuser regularly helps it function longer and diffuse better.
Cleaning your diffuser is a super simple process with just a few super simple steps!
Reasons you’ll want to clean your diffuser regularly:
Scent
Oil residue leftover from previous blends can change the smell of what you’re currency diffusing.
Reduce Bacteria
Even though essential oils are antibacterial, over time of being exposed to the open air they evaporate and even oxidize, meaning the properties break down and they are no longer effective. The moisture inside the diffuser can become a petri dish for unwanted bacteria, and you don’t want to diffuse and inhale that! This also means that you don’t want to save the water if you shut your diffuser off early. The leftover oils may not be effective by the next time you want to diffuse. Oxidized oils (left open and exposed to air) aren’t effective, may cause irritation, and will also smell different.
Diffuser Function
When the little disc that creates the fine mist becomes gunked up with oil residue over time, it can affect how well it vibrates and the volume output of mist.
Options for regularly cleaning your diffuser:
Just wipe it out with a paper towel or clean cloth once it’s empty to keep moisture from sitting in it.
Spray it with your all purpose OnGuard Concentrate cleaning spray and give it a good wipe down on the inside once a week.
Deep Cleaning:
This is something I do about once a month or when I notice a film building up inside the diffuser. I’ve even saved an old diffuser that would come on for about ten seconds and shut off again by doing this. The ultrasonic disc had become stuck with the dried oil residue. After doing these steps, it started working perfectly again!
1. Put a small amount of water in the diffuser.
2. Add a tsp of white vinegar and two drops of Lemon essential oil.
Put a small amount of water in the reservoir.
Add a tsp of white vinegar and two drops of Lemon essential oil.
Let it soak or turn on the diffuser for a few minutes to let the vinegar break down any residue or built up funky gunk. You might also want to immerse and soak the lid separately in water and vinegar if it has lots of nooks and crannies that are hard to clean.
Pour all of the water out and wipe the inside out with a clean cloth. Be very careful around the disc in the bottom of the reservoir, but make sure to wipe around the edges of it. Poking it too hard might affect its ability to vibrate and create the mist.
3. Let it soak, and then…
4. Wipe the inside out with a clean cloth.
That’s it!
Once everything has been wiped clean, you’re ready to diffuse again!
OnGuard All Purpose Cleaner Spray
In a 16oz glass bottle…
Add 2 Tbsp OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate.
Optional- Add 8 drops Lemon or Lemongrass essential oil.
Fill the rest of the bottle with water.
Clean counters, floors (tile and hardwood), mirrors, stovetops, sinks and bathtubs, and windows. The OnGuard Cleaner Concentrate is safe for all hard surfaces.