Diffusers serve the all-important task of breaking down essential oils into tiny molecules and subsequently dispersing them into the air, creating a calming, invigorating, and uplifting indoor environment.
RELATED: If you are looking to clean the diffuser, check out this step by step guide.
However, essences tend to leave behind residuals that can carry detrimental effects on the diffuser.
This means cleaning the diffuser extremely important, as explained below.
Preventing the Residual from Gumming Up the Diffuser
Most essential oils such as patchouli and vetiver are highly viscous, and thus they leave greasy substances on anything with which they come into contact.
If users fail to clean it up, the residue continues to build up in the diffuser and ultimately turn into a layer of grime and dirt.
When oil residual collects in an essential oils diffuser, it begins to affect the effectiveness of the device in the following ways:
- In an ultrasonic diffuser, the pad vibrates rapidly to break down the essential oils. The collected oil residuals might render the pad too heavy to vibrate effectively. This, in turn, reduces the diffuser’s efficacy.
- Similarly, oils residual can interrupt the airflow when they clog up the glass tubes in a nebulizing diffuser, which often leads to unsatisfactory performance.
- Oil residual in an evaporative diffuser may also prevent air from passing through the wick, which renders an evaporative diffuser ineffective.
Users may prevent these issues and maintain the effectiveness of their device by cleaning it after use.
Avoid Unpleasant Scent and Toxicity
Whether the homeowner is looking to create an indoor environment that reminds them of their favorite places or need a relaxing aroma to unwind after a long day, the chances are that they won’t get their desired results if their diffuser is dirty.
Leftover oils are likely to mix with the newly introduced essences to create an unwanted blend that may emit a horrendous odor.
The unpleasant aroma might mean the house impossible to stay in until the odor minimizes. If, for instance, a homeowner is diffusing lavender to help them chill out after a long, hectic day, any leftover aroma from that energizing grapefruit that they might have diffused earlier could make it an uphill task to relax.
Such a mixture may also lead to the emission of unpleasant toxins that may be harmful to the home dwellers. Oil residual from high viscous oils like vetiver and patchouli may also lead to an imbalanced ratio of the diluted essential oil. In turn, this may cause nasal irritation when inhaled or irascibility on the skin when someone comes in direct contact with the diffusers mist.
Preventing Mold Growth
Leaving the diffuser unclean for more than 48 hours can easily trigger mold growth.
When diffusing with a mold-infested device, users risk spreading the mildew spores through the entire house, which might lead to extensive damage, particularly on porous materials like drywall and clothes.
Diffusing essential oils with a mold-infested diffuser could also lead to severe health conditions like allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
Avoid Damaging the Unit
Leaving a diffuser dirty for too long can cause irreversible damage and reduce the longevity of the device. This is especially true for diffusers consisting of internal metallic parts, such as ultrasonic diffusers. The leftover mixture of oil and water can corrode the metallic parts, ultimately damaging the unit.
Although some essential oils aren’t as viscous as others, they all leave behind residuals that may adversely affect a person’s aromatherapy experience.
For instance, they can clog the device, cause unpleasant odors, or lead to mold growth, not to mention damaging the unit. To prevent this, aromatherapy enthusiast should clean their device after every use. They should empty their diffuser and use a microfiber cloth to remove any leftover water or oil residual. When handling the ultrasonic disc and hard to reach areas, a cotton swab will come in handy.
Also, aromatherapy enthusiasts should deep clean their diffuser once or twice a month.