The Best Ways to Use It for Cleaning: Tea Tree Essential Oil
Also filed inEssential OilsOil Highlights
Tea tree essential oil is one of our hardest-working oils, and these days it lives in our cleaning caddy more than anywhere else. Follow along to learn the best ways to use tea tree oil around your home, from all-purpose sprays to fresher laundry.
Tea tree essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the tea tree plant, and it is most known for its cleansing and purifying properties. That fresh, sharp scent is exactly why it has become one of our go-to oils for a naturally clean home.
Melaleuca and tea tree are the same thing and used the same way. Depending on the brand, different companies will refer to this oil with one of those names. Most people are familiar with tea tree essential oil but may know it as melaleuca essential oil.
We keep a bottle in just about every room. It cuts right through stale, musty smells, so we reach for it everywhere from the bathroom to the laundry room, and our whole house ends up smelling clean no matter the condition it is actually in. 😉
MY FAVORITE WAYS TO USE TEA TREE OIL
1. MAKE AN ALL-PURPOSE CLEANING SPRAY
Add it to vinegar and water for a simple all-purpose spray, and you have something that handles countertops, vanities, and just about any hard surface. Our full recipe is a little further down in this note. Tea tree is one of our favorite oils for cleaning.
2. FRESHEN UP THE BATHROOM
The bathroom is where tea tree really earns its keep. We use it to wipe down toilets, scrub sinks and vanities, and freshen up the grout. It is also lovely in a daily shower and tub spray to keep things clean between deep cleans.
3. WIPE DOWN COUNTERS AND SURFACES
A few drops of tea tree in your cleaning spray leaves kitchen counters and tables fresh and clean-smelling. It is the one we reach for most for everyday wiping.
4. TACKLE MUSTY LAUNDRY
Tea tree is a lifesaver in the laundry room. Add a few drops to your wash to freshen up towels, gym clothes, and any load that has been sitting a little too long and picked up that damp, musty smell.
5. DEODORIZE TRASH CANS AND HAMPERS
Something starting to smell? Drop a little tea tree into the bottom of your trash can, laundry hamper, or diaper pail to keep odors in check and the whole room smelling fresher.
6. CLEAN THE FLOORS
Add a few drops of tea tree to your mop water or homemade floor cleaner. Your floors come out clean and the whole room smells fresh.
7. FRESHEN SHOES AND GYM BAGS
Shoes and gym bags are magnets for stale smells. A drop or two of tea tree on a cotton ball tucked inside keeps them fresh between wears.
8. ADD IT TO YOUR DIY PROJECTS
Tea tree adds a clean, fresh scent to all kinds of homemade projects. Stir it into your reusable cleaning wipes, a batch of homemade soap, or a jar of DIY cleaner any time you want a little extra freshness. Grab our other favorite cleaning recipes too.
HOW TO USE TEA TREE ESSENTIAL OIL AROMATICALLY
The most popular way to use essential oils aromatically is with a diffuser. We love diffusing tea tree to freshen and clean the air and clear out any lingering odor.
Tea tree can also be used aromatically by adding a few drops to a cotton ball or tissue and breathing in the scent, making a room spray, or placing a few drops on a cloth.
If you have an essential oil diffuser, try adding 4-6 drops of tea tree essential oil for a clean, fresh scent. Below are a couple of our favorite diffuser blends using tea tree essential oil.
TEA TREE ESSENTIAL OIL DIFFUSER BLENDS
ELIMINATE ODOR
2 drops tea tree
2 drops lemon
2 drops cilantro
FRESH AND CLEAN
3 drops lemon
1 drop eucalyptus
1 drop tea tree
TEA TREE CLEANING SPRAY
This simple all-purpose spray is the one we reach for again and again to cleanse countertops and vanities, wipe down toilets, and scrub floors.
INGREDIENTS
- 16-ounce glass spray bottle
- 8 ounces vinegar
- 20-25 drops tea tree essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pour the ingredients into the glass spray bottle.
- Fill the bottle with water and shake well.
A Few Safety Notes
Essential oils are potent, so always dilute tea tree with a carrier oil before applying it to your skin, and do a small patch test first. Keep your oils away from your eyes, and store them safely out of reach of children and pets.
