If you’ve recently purchased a diffuser and it’s now working hard to fill your home with aromatherapy goodness, you’ve got a few questions. Maybe you’re wondering how to clean your diffuser. 

While many essential oils are antimicrobial, that doesn’t mean you can get away with neglecting your essential oil diffuser.

No matter what kind of diffuser you use, oil residue can build up over time. Maintenance isn’t typically at the top of our Fun List, but it is a task that allows us to continue enjoying the amazing benefits of aromatherapy without any hiccups. 

Why You Need To Clean Your Diffuser

Why do you need to clean your diffuser if the essential oils you’re diffusing are antibacterial and antifungal?

If you have an Ultrasonic Diffuser such as the Terrazzo or the Diamond Diffuser, thick, oily residue can build up over time, gumming up and even corroding the electronic parts. 

Say, for example, you’re preparing to diffuse Beach House synergy blend to enjoy the relaxing aroma of Sandalwood, Coconut, Sweet Orange, and other tropical aromatics. 

The previous day you used Tea Tree essential oil to support your immune system. If you don’t want your Tea Tree aroma to mix with your Beach House synergy blend then you would need to clean your diffuser beforehand.

Regular cleaning helps make sure each diffusion contains only the desired essential oil or blend. Next, we’ll go over both quick and in-depth methods for cleaning. 

Quick Cleanse

One way to keep your diffuser clean is to clean it whenever you notice the water tank is empty. 

To clean an essential oil diffuser quickly, follow these simple steps: 

1. Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove any leftover moisture, oil, or debris.

2. If it’s too difficult to get the clean cloth into nooks and crannies, bring in a Q-tip for extra support.

3. Don’t forget to clean the microfiber cloth regularly, too!

To avoid mixing oils unintentionally, you should also dump out the remaining water before you diffuse a new oil. 

If you won’t be diffusing for a few days due to vacation or sensitive visitors, be sure to empty all excess water from the tank so that there’s no chance the liquid will evaporate and concentrate (which could lead to additional corrosion).

Keep up these practices regularly, and you’ll only need to deep clean once or twice a month.

Diffuser Deep Cleanse

Depending on how often you use your diffuser, it will eventually come time for deeper cleaning. If you tend to use your diffuser near-daily, you’ll want to clean it once every two weeks or so. 

If you use it less frequently, you may be able to get away with more seldom deep cleanses. Just be extra careful of mold!

Cleaning a Passive Diffuser

If you have a terra cotta or ceramic diffuser, cleaning it is similar to cleaning a vase. Try any of the following methods:

• Soak it in a bowl of distilled water 

• Scrub gently with a scentless soap and dry in your dish rack

• Scrub it with white vinegar

Getting into any nooks and crannies with a small brush can ensure you’re removing all the essential oil residue for a super clean aromatherapy diffuser. 

Just be sure you understand the material’s care instructions.

Cleaning an Ultrasonic Diffuser

An Ultrasonic Diffuser requires a little extra TLC every two months or so.

Here is how to clean our Ultrasonic Diamond Diffuser:

1. First things first. Unplug the diffuser, disconnect the power adapter, and remove the cover.

2. Pour any excess water out from the “DRAIN SIDE” of the water container.

3. Fill the diffuser’s water tank to the halfway point with clean water. Then, add 10 drops of pure white vinegar. This will help remove essential oil buildup.

4. Run the diffuser for 3-5 minutes to allow the mixture to disperse. Do this in a well-ventilated room or even outside to make sure your space doesn’t smell like vinegar!

5. Pour the water and vinegar mixture out from the “DRAIN SIDE” of the water container.

6. With a cotton swab dipped in white vinegar, clean the nooks of the diffuser that may still be dirty.

7. Rinse with clean water. Then, completely empty the diffuser again.

8. Using a dry cloth, wipe the diffuser until it is thoroughly dry.

Pretty easy, right? 

We took great care in designing the Diamond Diffuser, putting functionality and simplicity at the forefront without compromising style. 

Now that you know how to clean diffuser residue, with consistent upkeep, you and your Diamond Diffuser will have a bright (and brightly aromatic) future together.

If you’re wondering how to use your Diamond Diffuser, we created a step-by-step guide on how to use an essential oil diffuser. 

Using high-quality, pure essential oils help to reduce the wear-and-tear on your diffuser over time. That’s just another reason why we source our oils from indigenous plants, and third-party test them to assure they’re clean and potent.