If you are one of those people who think cleaning your aromatherapy diffuser consists of dumping out the excess water after each diffusion (and perhaps a quick wipe-down), this article is for you! 

The truth is, improper cleaning is probably the number one reason most aromatherapy diffusers “malfunction.”  It really doesn’t take long for scum to accumulate in a diffuser.  This “scum” can consist of material left behind by the essential oils that were used.  However, in many cases, the scum is also the result of using hard water from your sink in a diffuser.  Hard water contains small amounts of minerals and lime.  This lime is notorious for building up over time.  In fact, many people who do not have water softeners (they help control lime) will find that they have to replace parts in their hot water heater more than people with a water softener because of lime build up.  When this builds up on the little vibrational plate at the bottom of an ultrasonic diffuser, it can lead to major problems. 

Try to prevent this from happening in the first place by following the advice below:

The best defense is a good offense, right?  One major way to avoid lime build up in your diffuser is to diffuse distilled or filtered water. It is really easy to just pour water from your sink into a diffuser, but if you want to preserve your diffuser and have it last for a long time, the water you use matters.  To make things more convenient, try storing bottled water where you keep your diffusers so you don’t feel the urge to run to the nearest sink. 

Essential oils will always leave something behind in your diffuser.  It is okay to dump the excess water and carefully wipe down the diffuser after each use, but inevitably, you will find that scum will probably still build up on the vibrational plate over time.  This scum left behind by essential oils can be just as hard (if not harder) to remove than lime.  To prevent any issues, consider doing a more thorough cleaning every four to five diffusions.  This consists of filling your diffuser with (filtered or distilled) water and adding ten to fifteen drops of white vinegar and letting it run.  Make sure you run it in a room nobody is occupying because the smell of vinegar is generally unpleasant.   As unpleasant as the smell may be, vinegar really is a great way to clean without using harsh chemicals.  

After your run your diffuser with water and vinegar, gently dump out the excess water and wipe everything down thoroughly.  Next, grab a Q-tip and very gently (applying too much pressure may damage the small vibrational plate) swab any excess residue from the plate.  

When you combine the use of filtered or distilled water with a thorough vinegar cleansing every four to five diffusions, you will prolong the life of your diffuser.  A clean diffuser will ensure that you are receiving the maximum benefits every time you diffuse!