21 Everyday Uses of Tea Tree Oil (including a homemade natural household spray, mouth wash and mosquito bite healer and more!
Tea Tree oil is known as a medicine cabinet in a bottle. The 'cure all' of essential oils.
Tea Tree (Botanical name: Melaleuca alternifolia) is a plant is native to Australia. There are almost 100 naturally identified compounds in Tea Tree oil, which makes it virtually impossible for bacteria to build a resistance to.
Tea Tree oil is one of the most researched and scientifically proven essential oils. Tea Tree has been known for its healing and disinfecting properties for over a century and a wealth of scientific evidence exists to support its effectiveness.
Tea Tree oil is an almost clear yet pale yellow essential oil. It is steam distilled from the leaves of Tea Tree. The oil has been proven to have beneficial cosmetic and medical properties including antiseptic functions (think cuts, burns, abrasions), antiviral (the flu, sinus, coughing, congestion), antifungal (treat fungal conditions like athlete’s foot, ringworm and thrush) and antibacterial (think anything that is dirty and has germs!).
Tea tree oil is so versatile it is a must have in every home! Read on for the 21 everyday uses of Tea Tree oil.
1. Natural Household Antiseptic Spray
Anything that needs disinfecting, cleaning, or balancing can benefit from Tea Tree oil. Combine 9-10 drops of oil with two cups of hot water in a spray bottle for tough areas like the bathroom and sink. Avoid the common toxic household cleaners, where it’s not good to inhale the fumes nor have the chemicals run down the sink into the earth.
2. Natural Mouth Wash - Fight Bad Breath
Our mouths contain a lot bacteria (both good and bad!). Bad breath can be caused by an overgrowth of bad bacteria. Tea Tree oil is one of the best natural antibacterial oils available on this earth so it is highly effective in preventing and destroying the bad bacteria build up in the mouth. You need to mix a drop of Tea Tree oil with a cup of warm water and swish around your mouth, through your teeth, and gargle. Make sure you do not swallow this. Repeat 1-2 times daily.
3. Ease Itchy Mosquito Bites
Being from Australia we’re use to our fair share of mosquitos. But getting bitten is never fun, and the store-bought stuff doesn’t seem to ever do the trick. Studies have shown that Tea Tree oil can play a role in decreasing the wheal and flare reaction after a mosquito bite. When we get mosquito bites, the body releases histamine-a that causes reactions such as itchiness, redness, and swelling. The reaction on the skin will take place in two parts. First, a raised, red or flesh coloured lump, will raise. This is the wheal part of the reaction. Following this is the flare, which is a ring of red, irritated skin that surrounds the wheal. Tea tree oil is particularly effective in dealing with the volume of the wheal. It is best to dab a bit of Tea Tree oil (diluted with coconut oil for sensitive skin) on a mosquito bite to reduce the severity of the initial reaction and soothe the burning itching sensation that can make you go crazy!
4. Laundry Detergent
If your laundry smells a bit musty, Add 3-4 drops of oil to your detergent for mould-prone items like chunky sweaters and wool. Tea tree oil is a powerful mould fighter. The antibacterial Tea Tree oil helps to freshen and remove any lurking mould or mildew.
5. Acne
Avoid using those expensive, unnatural, chemical-ridden acne treatments. Dab a drop of tea tree oil on a damp cotton ball or q-tip and apply to trouble spots. Make sure you dampen your cotton ball or q-tip with water. When mixed with water, your blemishes will be naturally reduced.
6. Sinus infections
Tea Tree oil is antiviral and antibacterial, making it great for any sort of infection of the respiratory system. Boil water and add a few drops of tea tree oil to the water. After removing the pot from heat, put a towel over your head and breathe in for 10-15 minutes.
7. Air Freshener
Place a few drops in an oil diffuser to naturally deodorise and disinfectant air. This will help to remove bacteria, viruses, mould and other germs you’re your home's atmosphere. If you don’t own a diffuser or an oil burner, you can create your own using a pot of boiling water. Simply simmer a pot of water on your stove-top and add a few drops of Tea Tree oil. The scent of this homemade air freshener will permeate throughout your house. Just remember to keep adding water and essential oil as the water evaporates.
8. Natural Cleaning Spray
Anything that needs disinfecting, cleaning, or balancing can benefit from Tea Tree oil. Combine 4-5 drops of oil with two cups of hot water in a spray bottle. Use to clean household surfaces like counter-tops and kitchen floors. Make sure to also use the spray around your home whenever the air smells a tad stale.
9. Mould Remover
Combine 10 drops of Tea tree oil and mix with 2 cups of hot water and spray the solution on the mouldy areas, but do not wipe or rinse for at least an hour. After letting it ѕit, use a scrub brush or old toothbrush to remove the debris and then use a cloth, sponge or towel to wipe away!
10. Dandruff
Tea Tree oil is very effective against dandruff. It’s amazing that it can be used to combat acne, which is thought of as an oil issue, and dandruff, which is viewed as a dryness issue. To combat against dandruff, the key is the mix of oil to shampoo. Use 5% tea tree oil to shampoo. About 3-4 drops of oil into a whole bottle of your natural, scentless shampoo. Do not put the oil directly onto your scalp.
11. Head Lice
Combine 1 teaspoon of Tea Tree oil to 1 ounce of natural shampoo, and 3 tablespoons of coconut oil. Apply the solution to the scalp and hair. Cover your hair with either a towel or shower cap. Comb your hair thoroughly to remove the dead lice.
12. Nail Infections
Have a hangnail or nail irritation? Dabbing a bit if Tea Tree oil onto the nail will act as an antibacterial without causing irritation to the skin.
13. Vacuum Refresher
Add a few drops of Tea Tree oil to a couple of cotton balls and stick them in your vacuum’s canister. As you vacuum, the essential oil will diffuse throughout your home, cleansing the air and making your whole house smell fresh. You can also douse cotton balls with Tea Tree oil and stick them in closets and drawers to keep closed off areas fresh.
14. Skin-softening Balm
Add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil to two tablespoons of warm coconut oil. Allow the mixture to return to a solid state and apply to hands, knees, elbows or any area of your body that deserves a little extra moisturising and softening attention.
15. Humidifier Cleaner
Add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil to the water reservoir of your humidifier. The tea tree oil’s natural cleansing properties will refresh and renew your humidifier so that is provides the freshest, healthiest humidified air for your home.
16. Toothbrush Cleaner
Few people think about cleaning their toothbrush, but it’s strongly recommended. Add a drop or two of tea tree oil to a small cup of water and soak your toothbrush in the solution while you’re at work. You’ll come home to a fresh toothbrush.
17. Natural Pest Control
Tea tree oil has a distinctive smell that will naturally (and safely) keep ants and other insects away. You can also apply Tea Tree oil directly to small areas of your home where bugs may be entering in from the outside, but you can also make your own homemade insect repellent lotion by combining a few drops of tea tree oil with some coconut oil.
18. Tea Tree Oil Deodorant Spray
There are a lot of natural DIY deodorant recipes out there, but the most popular (and reportedly most effective) ones all have one thing in common: Tea Tree oil. You’ll need to mix 9-10 drops of Tea Tree oil with warm water in a small spray bottle to carry.
19. Clean Minor Cuts and Abrasions
Tea Tree oil is one of the most researched for its antimicrobial effectiveness. Minor cuts and abrasions can therefore be aided with Tea Tree oil where you can cleanse the affected area and ward off infection. Make sure to first rinse and clean off the affected area first, then mix a drop of Tea Tree oil with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and apply a small dab directly to the cut. Rinse clean and re-apply 1-2 times daily as needed.
20. Flea Collar for Dogs
Make a flea collar by putting a few drops of diluted tea tree on the dog’s collar on a weekly basis. There are several cautions notes you must be aware of: Never use essential oils on cats. If you decide to put it on your dog’s collar, always use lower concentration oil (1% or less) and always dilute it with a carrier oil. Use very small amount on the collar, and don’t use it directly on the skin.
21. Earache and Infection
Add 2-3 drops of Tea Tree oil to two tablespoons of warm olive oil. Use a dropper to drip a small amount inside of the aching ear, while tilting head to one side. Use cotton swab to absorb any excess oil. Repeat process two to three times a day.
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Tea Tree oil is so versatile and multi-purpose that there should be one bottle of Tea Tree oil in every home and first aid kit!
If you are considering buying a bottle of Tea Tree oil for your home, make sure you only buy certified 100% organic, 100% pure and 100% Australian Tea Tree oil. This is so you avoid all of the low grade, synthetic and hazardous additives in many copycat products out there.
This bottle of Auriginals Tea Tree Essential oil is the highest quality Tea Tree oil available in the world, as it is sourced from our farm where scientists have determined it to be the ecological birthplace of the Tea Tree species. It is impossible to recreate the exact quality that grows in this original and natural environment.
Check out the Auriginals 100% Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil.
