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Essential Oils
How to Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser Download Article Co-authored by Carolina Rodriguez
Last Updated: March 10, 2025 Approved
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Cleaning Your Diffuser After Use
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Deep Cleaning Your Diffuser
|
Avoiding Common Mistakes
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Video
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Expert Interview
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This article was co-authored by Carolina Rodriguez. Carolina Rodriguez is a 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. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 208,391 times.
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.
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Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Cleaning Your Diffuser After Use
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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]XResearch source
2 Clean the inside and outside of your 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]XResearch source
Only use natural cleaners without any chemical additives. Harsh chemicals can harm the diffuser.
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3 Rinse the diffuser.[3]X Expert Source Carolina RodriguezCleaning SpecialistExpert Interview 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.[4]XResearch source
Alternatively use a soft brush or used toothbrush to remove excess oil.[5]X Expert Source Carolina RodriguezCleaning SpecialistExpert Interview
4 Clean the mist chip. 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.[6]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Deep Cleaning Your Diffuser
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1 Fill your diffuser with water. Use clean, room temperature tap water.[7]XResearch source Fill the tank about halfway full.[8]XResearch source
2 Add 10 drops of white vinegar. White vinegar cleans, disinfects and helps break down any oils stuck inside the diffuser. Add approximately 10 drops of white vinegar to your tank.[9]XResearch source
Make sure you use pure white vinegar. You shouldn't use anything with chemical additives on a diffuser.
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.[10]XResearch source
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.[11]XResearch source
5 Wipe down the inside of the 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.[12]XResearch source
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 Wipe down the outside of the 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.[13]XResearch source
Be careful not to get any water into the buttons or under the machine.
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Avoiding Common Mistakes
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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 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.[14]XResearch source
3 Unplug and empty your diffuser before cleaning. 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.
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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.
Co-authored by: Carolina Rodriguez Green Cleaning Specialist This article was co-authored by Carolina Rodriguez. Carolina Rodriguez is a 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 208,391 times. 3 votes - 67% Co-authors: 5Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 208,391 Categories: Essential OilsArticle 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?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
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, thanks to your guide."..." more Rated this article:
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Carolina Rodriguez Green Cleaning Specialist 3 votes - 67% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 5Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 208,391
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, thanks to your guide."..." more Rated this article:
Ruth Graham
Nov 2, 2017
"Cleaning with white vinegar for deep cleaning helped. The diffuser wasn't working properly and this really helped, thank you."..." more
Anonymous
May 30, 2017
"It was easy to follow stated directions." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Co-authored by Carolina Rodriguez 
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Co-authored by: Carolina Rodriguez Green Cleaning Specialist This article was co-authored by Carolina Rodriguez. Carolina Rodriguez is a 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 208,391 times. 3 votes - 67% Co-authors: 5 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 208,391 Categories: Essential Oils Article SummaryX
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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 Clean the inside and outside of your 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] 
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.[10] 
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.[11] 
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 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.[14]