We love to diffuse essential oils. A diffuser isn’t hard to clean, but it must be maintained to ensure we are getting all of the benefits of our oils. Here’s how to clean an ultrasonic diffuser without vinegar.
I used to be overwhelmed by essential oils.
When we started looking for ways to ditch things like over-scented candles and artificially scented beauty products, I stumbled upon essential oils and thought I’d give them a go.
I quickly fell in love with the flexibility and freedom it granted me to customize the products in my home.
As I grew more comfortable with using essential oils in things like all-purpose sprays and sugar scrubs, I moved toward making roller bottles and creating my own recipes.
Diffusing essential oils is another way to experiment with essential oil recipes and move away from over-scented candles. But understanding a diffuser can be an added layer of nuance that adds to the anxiety of making the switch.
Luckily, caring for a diffuser isn’t difficult.
So grab a clean cloth and let’s dive in!
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How Can I Diffuse Essential Oils?
Diffuse means to spread over a wide area.
When you burn a candle, you can smell the fragrances and essential oils because they are mixed into the wax during the creation process. As the wax melts, those fragrances and oils are heated and thrown into the air.
Essential oils don’t need heat, wax, and a chemical reaction to be thrust into the air. That’s where diffusers come in.
An essential oils diffuser breaks down the essential oils and disperses them into the air. There are a few different kinds of essential oil diffusers – ultrasonic, heat, reed, and nebulizing.
What Is An Ultrasonic Diffuser?
An ultrasonic diffuser uses vibrations to turn essential oils into a mist.
Ultrasonic diffusers usually have a water reservoir that is filled to a water line. The essential oils are dropped into the water, and the diffuser is assembled and turned on. As the diffuser’s ultrasonic plate vibrates, the water turns into a mist that carries the essential oils with it.
Because there is no heat involved, ultrasonic diffusers are usually a popular choice for use around children.
Ultrasonic diffusers are also quiet.
Are you just finding out about low-tox living? It can be overwhelming…
I think the best way to learn about low-tox living is by casually incorporating it into your life. As you become more comfortable with essential oils, you can slowly incorporate making your shampoo or cooking from scratch.
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How to Clean An Ultrasonic Diffuser
Please note that the instructions in this blog post may not be what’s best for the ultrasonic diffuser you have. For instructions specific to your diffuser, and for the best outcome, be sure to reference the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific ultrasonic diffuser.
It’s also important to note that how you clean your diffuser may depend on what your diffuser is made out of. Some diffuser materials require something like white vinegar or isopropyl alcohol. Others may require soapy water or dish soap.
The key to cleaning an ultrasonic diffuser is to clean the ultrasonic chip carefully. This is the reason why your diffuser works!
Ultrasonic chips can sometimes get leftover residues built up on them. So regular cleaning is necessary to maintain them.
To clean the ultrasonic chip, unplug the diffuser from its power source. Find the ultrasonic chip, usually at the bottom of the diffuser reservoir. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing or isopropyl alcohol and carefully clean the ultrasonic chip. Repeat as necessary with a new cotton swab to remove all oily residue.
Once the chip is cleaned, you can move onto the diffuser reservoir, also called the diffuser tank. Just wet a paper towel or clean cloth with rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol and wipe to remove any oil buildup or residue.
The diffuser cover, or the top, can be cleaned with the same cleaning agent you choose.
Isopropyl alcohol is my preferred cleaning agent for essential oil diffusers. I also don’t mind the smell of vinegar, so I may use that, too.
More Thorough Cleaning Tips
When you are not diffusing oils, be sure to remove stagnant water from the water reservoir. This is a preventative measure that can keep your diffuser clean and operating efficiently.
You can also consider diffusing white vinegar to tackle a deep cleaning of your ultrasonic diffuser. Fill the water reservoir below the recommended water level and add a teaspoon or two of white vinegar. Run the diffuser like you would any other cycle. Dump any remaining water and wipe with a dry cloth. Leave the diffuser disassembled to dry.
To get into tight spots of your diffuser, rely on a cotton swab or a soft cloth.
Other cleaning agents for diffusers include castile soap, warm water, tea tree essential oil, and citrus oils like lemon essential oil.
Ultrasonic Diffuser Maintenance
Maintaining your diffuser can give it longevity.
Distilled water is the preferred water to diffuse. Tap water can sometimes leave behind mineral deposits. Pure, white vinegar can easily remove these mineral deposits. But for longevity, it’s best to use distilled water.
Some say a small amount of citric acid is also effective in removing mineral deposits.
If you don’t have access to distilled water, clean your diffuser more regularly.
You can also let the diffuser dry completely in between uses.
Most Common Types of Diffusers
There is a huge market for essential oil diffusers. Diffusers are produced by many different companies.
The most important thing to keep in mind is your purpose and current environment. Different diffusers lend themselves to different purposes, like running time and strength.
Electric Diffusers
Heat Diffuser
A heat diffuser is a small vessel that holds essential oils in a sort of tray. That tray is heated, usually with a heating element. As the tray heats, the essential oils evaporate and are dispersed into the air as fragrance.
Heat diffusers are also quiet. However, heating essential oils can potentially change their composition, which could in turn impact their potency.
Evaporative Diffuser
Evaporative diffusers can be compared to reed diffusers, but they aren’t the same thing.
Reed diffusers rely on porous wood to diffuse essential oils, whereas evaporative diffusers are powered by a small fan.
That fan sits above a reservoir of essential oils, sometimes a filter soaked in essential oils, and blows through the filter to disperse the oils into the air.
Nebulizing Diffuser
Ultrasonic and nebulizing diffusers may sound like the same thing, but they are not.
Ultrasonic diffusers need water to operate. Nebulizing diffusers do not.
Nebulizing diffusers have a small pump that draws the essential oils into a tube. There, an ultrasonic plate or device turns the essential oils into vapor, and air forces the essential oils out of the diffuser.
Because there is no water to dilute the essential oils, this is usually a more potent way to diffuse essential oils.
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Non-Electric Diffusers
Lava Rock Diffusers
Spray Bottles
You can create your diffuser with a spray bottle and some of your favorite oils!
Essential oils are not water-soluble, so you may need to combine your oils with a little bit of isopropyl alcohol. Reference your favorite essential oils room spray recipe for more information.
Reed Diffuser
Reed diffusers don’t rely on technology whatsoever to diffuse essential oils.
Reed diffusers are made with certain types of wood that are porous. Those reeds are placed into a jar or small container, filled with oils or fragrances, and left to diffuse. The fragrance works its way up the porous wood and evaporates when it reaches the top of the wood.
If you want a stronger scent, you can add reeds to your diffuser. To maintain the diffuser, simply flip the reeds.
If you don’t like a strong smell from candles or diffusers, a reed diffuser may not be for you.
Simmer Pot
A simmer pot is a collection of aromatics heated in water on a stove. The simmering water breaks down the aromatics and the steam disperses the scent into the air.
Simmer pots are popular for wood stoves because they also put humidity back into the air.
Simmer pots are just as customizable as essential oil blends! However, I would recommend you don’t use too many drops of essential oils. The oils can be very potent.
What Cleaning Method Do You Use?
I have told you the simple steps I use to clean my diffuser. How do you clean your diffuser? Comment on this blog post and let me know!
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