8 Household Uses for Tea Tree Oil, From Sanitizing to Pest Repelling

Make a Natural Surface Cleaner

Use tea tree oil to make your own all-purpose cleaner. (Its antibacterial properties make it perfect for this!) Add several drops of tea tree oil, about a cup of water, and a tablespoon of white vinegar to a spray bottle and shake gently to combine.

Then, you can use the solution to wipe down surfaces like bathroom and kitchen sinks, doorknobs, and more, according to cleaning professional Dawn Arias-Spinelli, owner of Kleaner Image.

Deep Clean Your Towels

To freshen up musty towels, use tea tree oil as a laundry booster. Add a few drops of the essential oil (around five to 10) to the wash to reap its natural deodorizing and antibacterial qualities.

If you don't want to add tea tree oil directly into your washing machine, soak a cloth with the liquid and add it to the laundry drum.

Prevent Mold and Mildew

Prevent mold and mildew from forming by adding this trick to your regular cleaning routine, suggests Arias-Spinelli. Simply add one teaspoon of tea tree oil and one cup of water to a spray bottle, shake well, and spray directly onto areas where mildew is likely to form—along grout, in corners of tubs, on shower doors, etc. Allow to sit for an hour before wiping away excess.

Freshen Your Air

Forget synthetic air fresheners loaded with chemicals and artificial fragrances. Tea tree oil can leave your home smelling fresh and clean naturally, according to Arias-Spinelli. Use it to saturate cotton balls before placing them inconspicuously in rooms that need a little extra freshness.

Deep Clean Makeup Brushes

You might be familiar with tea tree oil as an element in many a skincare routine—but this ingredient can be just as useful to your makeup brushes as to your own dermis. Give those foundation, blush, and shadow brushes a thorough clean with a DIY solution of tea tree oil (just five to 10 drops will do), gentle dish soap, and warm water.

Deodorize Trash Cans

Before you reach for that synthetic air freshener, try using tea tree oil to deodorize trash cans that smell like trash. Add a few drops to a cotton ball or disposable cloth and place it at the bottom of your garbage can, recycling bin, or compost pail before you add the bag. The oil will help neutralize and prevent odors and leave your bin smelling fresh.

Make a Natural Pest Repellent

Tea tree oil can serve as a natural alternative to chemical-laden bug sprays. Mosquitos are repelled by certain scents that include eucalyptus, citronella, and—you've guessed it—tea tree oil. Use it to make your own DIY mosquito repellent with the instructions here.

Clean Your Toilets

All out of your go-to toilet bowl cleaner? Leave it to tea tree oil. Pour in both some baking soda and several drops of tea tree oil, and allow to sit. Then, scrub with a toilet brush. The abrasive quality of the baking soda will assist in removing stains, while the essential oil deodorizes and helps sanitize.