Garden Trees, Shrubs & Vines
Tamara Warta
Essential oils have been popular for years, with fans touting them as the solution for everything from health issues to household solutions. With the latter in mind, many people have found tea tree oil, in particular, to be great for a variety of home uses.
According to Mayo Clinic, tea tree oil — also known as melaleuca oil — is an essential substance resulting from the steaming of the Australian tea tree leaves. It first gained notoriety for proving itself as an effective treatment for skin conditions like acne, athlete’s foot, insect bites, and even lice treatment. As a result, it’s one of the oils most used in over-the-counter skin care products, including makeup, lotion, and soaps.
However, what’s really getting people’s attention these days is how you can use tea tree oil for cleaning, killing mold, and freshening up rooms and closets. To that end, it’s pretty obvious that tea tree oil is definitely a worthy addition to your household.
Freshen up your rooms
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You can use tea tree oil in a variety of ways to freshen up your home. Boost your laundry with an extra fresh scent by mixing some of this oil into your detergent. You can also drop it directly into the water as the washing machine is filling up. For a more effective scent, you can also add some of it to a wool dryer ball, which will set the tea tree oil fragrance into your clothes as they are drying.
Tea tree oil is also useful in the kitchen. If you can’t stand the smell of your garbage can, even if it’s just up close, essential oils can neutralize it and make the environment more pleasant. According to Wayfair, simply saturate a cotton ball in the oil and place it at the bottom of the trash can. Then, put the new trash bag on top as usual, and the cotton ball will do its job by releasing the scent around the space. The result is a fresh and amazing-smelling kitchen.
Cleaning with tea tree oil
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According to Thrifty Jinxy, tea tree oil is also a very effective cleaning product. It is a 100% pure and potent antiseptic that hinders plenty of bacteria and fungi types in their track. So if you are looking for a non-toxic cleaning alternative, tea tree oil is an excellent option. You can combine it with white vinegar and water into a spray bottle for an all-purpose cleaner. Shake up the bottle well before using it, and add several drops of another essential oil you love if you prefer a scented cleaner. Lavender, lemon, and peppermint are popular choices.
You can also use tea tree oil in a homemade bathroom scrub with baking soda, castile soap, and water. It will form a paste-like substance that will effectively clean everything from the bathtub to the toilet to the sinks. It’s a safe and affordable alternative to store-bought cleaners, many of which are full of harmful chemicals.
