One thing to keep in mind as you do? Diffusers, like any other appliance, get dirty! The more you use it, the more you need to clean it. Here’s a primer on how to scrub down your essential oil diffuser and keep the good smells flowing. You need to be diligent about emptying the water out of your machine between uses since it can cause mold to form. Every time you run the diffuser, dump out any water that’s left at the end and wipe down its inner cartridge with a cloth. Leave the top of the machine off to allow the cartridge to air out completely before you use it again. Depending on how often you use your machine, you’ll also want to give it a deeper clean every two to four weeks. Here’s how Sarah Panton, the founder of Vitruvi oils, recommends going about it: This means that you don’t need to worry about mold in your machine, but you should still clean it every few weeks to make sure that oils aren’t clogging its smaller glass parts and passageways. Leigh Winters, a neuroscientist and natural beauty expert, says to do so using rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) since it’s more effective at tackling oil than vinegar is. Keep in mind that these machines are delicate, so approach your cleaning with care: Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
