How to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser

Download ArticleDownload Article

An essential oil diffuser can help give your home a pleasant scent. However, they require regular cleaning. After each use, give your essential oil diffuser a thorough wash. Once a month, deep clean your diffuser. Be vigilant about cleaning to avoid the buildup of gunk and grime in your diffuser.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Your Diffuser After Use

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Pour excess water into the sink.
    Pour the water out from behind as this will prevent you from spilling on the diffuser's operating buttons. This could cause damage to the diffuser.[1]
  2. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
    Dab a small amount of a natural dishwashing detergent on a cotton brush. Use this to give the tank a gentle wipe down, removing any grime, and then wipe down the outside of the diffuser as well.[2]
    • Only use natural cleaners without any chemical additives. Harsh chemicals can harm the diffuser.
    Advertisement
  3. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
    Use a cloth dampened with clean water. Rub inside the tank and on the outside of the diffuser. This should remove any soap residue. Make sure to rub the diffuser with a clean rag until any water running off of it is clean.[3]
    • Alternatively use a soft brush or used toothbrush to remove excess oil.
  4. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
    There should be a small ultrasonic chip inside the water tank. If you're not sure where your diffuser's chip is, consult your instructions manual. Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to wipe down the mist chip.[4]
  5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Deep Cleaning Your Diffuser

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
    Use clean, room temperature tap water.[5] Fill the tank about halfway full.[6]
  2. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
    White vinegar cleans, disinfects and helps break down any oils stuck inside the diffuser. Add approximately 10 drops of white vinegar to your tank.[7]
    • Make sure you use pure white vinegar. You shouldn't use anything with chemical additives on a diffuser.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Run the diffuser for 10 to 15 minutes.
    Plug in your diffuser and turn it on. Let it run for 10 to 15 minutes. This will loosen up any oils stuck on the side of the diffuser.[8]
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Dump out the water.
    After running the diffuser, unplug it. Dump out any water from the tank down the sink, the same way you would when normally using the diffuser.[9]
  5. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
    Use either a soft cloth, cotton swab, or small brush to wipe down the diffuser's tank. Target any stuck on grime on the sides of the tank. These can dilute smells when you use your diffuser.[10]
    • Make sure to wipe any grime off the mist chip on your diffuser. If this is blocked, it can cause a diffuser to run improperly.
  6. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
    Once the inside is clean, take a soft rag, cotton swab, or brush dampened with water. Wipe off any dirt, debris, or smudges like fingerprints from the diffuser.[11]
    • Be careful not to get any water into the buttons or under the machine.
  7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Download Article
  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Read your manufacturer's instructions first.
    Most diffusers can be safely cleaned using the methods above. However, every diffuser is different. Yours may have special cleaning instructions, so refer to these when cleaning the diffuser.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Remove water and oil after each use.
    The longer you let water and oil sit in a diffuser, the harder it will be to clean. Each time you clean your diffuser, dump out any excess water or oil. This will keep your diffuser clean, cutting back on cleaning time.[12]
  3. How.com.vn English: Watermark How.com.vn to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
    Never start cleaning your diffuser when it's still plugged into the wall. Each time you clean, unplug your diffuser. If there is any water or oil sitting in the diffuser, dispose of this before cleaning.
  4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cleaning, check out our in-depth interview with Carolina Rodriguez.

      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Carolina Rodriguez
      Co-authored by:
      Green Cleaning Specialist
      This article was co-authored by Carolina Rodriguez. Carolina Rodriguez is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Ecoverde Cleaning, based in the Washington, DC metro area. Ecoverde was born out of a desire to provide an eco-friendly cleaning option that competes with many traditional cleaning companies in the Washington, DC metro area. Through competitive pricing, attractive service plans, and friendly customer service. Ecoverde has built a strong residential and commercial customer base serving DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and has been named the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Washington DC. Carolina and her team specialize in residential and commercial cleaning services and use Green Seal Certified products. The team's cleaning technicians go through an extensive training process, learning about specific products, real-time cross-contamination, and how to use appropriate equipment for specific services. They also provide free cleanings to cancer patients through a non-profit organization, Cleaning For a Reason. This article has been viewed 199,218 times.
      How helpful is this?
      Co-authors: 5
      Updated: March 20, 2024
      Views: 199,218
      Categories: Essential Oils
      Article SummaryX

      To clean your essential oil diffuser, start by unplugging it and pouring out any excess water so you don’t spill it over the buttons. Then, put a small amount of natural dish soap on a cotton brush, and wipe down the tank and the outside of your diffuser. Once you’ve cleaned away any grime, rinse the diffuser by rubbing it with a damp cloth. Finally, use a cotton swab dabbed in rubbing alcohol to clean the mist chip, which you’ll find inside the tank. Remember to read your instruction manual before cleaning your diffuser, since different models may have special requirements for cleaning. For tips on how to give your diffuser a deep clean, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 199,218 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • How.com.vn English: Jack Dully

        Jack Dully

        Aug 16, 2018

        "I was using fragrance oil combined with essential oil and it plugged up the works. Now it seems to be working fine,..." more
        Rated this article:
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      ⚠️ Disclaimer:

      Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
      Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.

      Notices:
      • - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
      • - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
      • - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
      • - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.

      Advertisement