Essential oil diffusers break down the essential oils so that the aroma can be dispersed throughout the whole room. It’s a great way to use essential oils since this brings a soothing and relaxing atmosphere that you can enjoy.
However, it’s troublesome when the diffuser starts functioning improperly or even breaks. At times, all it needs is a good clean-up, but it may also need some other tune-ups for it to get fixed if you experience some issues.
Below, I’ve outlined the most common reasons for problems, and how to easily fix your essential oil diffuser at home.
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If your essential oil diffuser is experiencing some hiccups, give these tips a try, and also don’t be shy to share your own experience in the comments.
Make Sure You Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
It is vitally important that you clean your diffuser properly on a regular basis. While it can be a challenge at first, you’ll slowly get used to the process of cleaning the diffuser and you’ll be maintaining it yourself instead of paying someone to do it for you, or waiting for the diffuser to break down and having to expense the replacement cost. It’s an incredible hassle to bring in or send back a diffuser just for cleaning, and it becomes of an even bigger problem if the diffuser gets broken because you didn’t clean it properly.
Essential oil diffusers come in many types and shapes. This one here is the Young Living Aria Diffuser. It’s beautiful, but also quite expensive.
Exact cleaning recommendations and steps will vary depending on which diffuser you use. PLEASE give your diffuser manual a quick read before you start its operation, just so that you know what you need to do to maintain it’s best functionality and most effective diffusing of aromatherapy.
To be used only as a general rule of thumb, here’s a list of steps you can follow to clean your essential oil diffuser:
8 Simple Steps To Clean Your Essential Oil Diffuser
*** ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR DIFFUSER IS UNPLUGGED FROM ITS POWER OUTLET BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN IT ***
- Fill your diffuser about half way with clean water. Make sure you stop well below the max line.
- Add up to 10 drops of pure white vinegar. This will help in removing the oils that are stuck inside the diffuser and on the glass or plastic pieces.
- Let the diffuser run for about 3-5 minutes to allow the water-vinegar mixture to disperse throughout the unit and clean it.
- Drain the diffuser completely.
- Using a cotton swab dipped in vinegar, clean the tight spots and corners of the diffuser to make sure that no spots are left dirty.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Empty again and you’re good to go.
- Use a dry cloth, or more cotton swabs or cotton balls to wipe the diffuser and dry it thoroughly.
Please note, some people have told me that cleaning your diffuser with vinegar voided their diffuser warranty – specifically on Young Living diffusers. If your unit is still under warranty, it would be best to call customer service of your diffuser brand or product seller first before you attempt any home remedies to clean your unit.
Some diffusers also give you specific cleaning instructions in their diffuser manuals. Please always consult these avenues first before proceeding with my general cleaning tips.
After Each Use
Most manufacturer instructions will tell you to clean out your diffuser after each use, which at first may seem a bit excessive. While I owned my first diffuser unit, I didn’t do it properly each time. I’d leave water plus essential oil mixture in the diffuser, thinking “oh I’ll just run this again tomorrow”.
Please DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. The oils used in your essential oil diffuser can be very corrosive and you really do have to clean it out after each use for best longevity and performance of the unit. Further, the smells and leftovers of one oil can severely effect the experience you have when you put another scent or oil in your diffuser.
So, after each use, please fully empty your essential oil diffuser of all water and oils, and give it at least a quick wipe with a damp cloth, Kleenex, or Q-tip.
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Troubleshooting Your Diffuser
If you’re using your essential oil diffuser on a regular basis, it can from time to time come up with some troubles or hiccups. But do not panic! Most common problems can easily be solved with the following few simple tricks.
Ways to troubleshoot these problems
Diffuser Doesn’t Have Power
- Check if the power plug is securely plugged to the electrical outlet
- Make sure that the bowl contains water and the levels are correct
- Check if you’re using the right power adapter
- Check if the power supply socket is plugged into the diffuser
- Empty the diffuser, wait for a few days to dry it out and try plugging it in again
Very Little Diffusion
- Check if the water levels are correct/high enough
- Make sure that the fan inlet is not blocked by dried up oil essential oil > give your diffuser a clean-up if you can see left over dirt
- Re-check the mist settings of the diffuser and ensure you didn’t turn it down
Water in the diffuser is hot, level is high
- This means that the diffuser has been overfilled with water
- Turn off and unplug the diffuser from the power supply
- Empty the diffuser and let it cool down a bit
- Refill the diffuser at the right water level and restart
- If the diffuser doesn’t start up, that means it has been damaged by overfilling and will need proper repair
Water in the diffuser is hot, level is normal
- The fan intake may be obstructed
- Remove any towel or cloth that may have been placed below the diffuser
- Check to see if there are hairs or fur pieces stuck in the fan blades and remove
- Turn off and unplug the diffuser, letting it cool down for a while
- Refill the diffuser at the right level and restart
- If the diffuser doesn’t start up, that means it has been damaged and will need proper repair
Light indicators flash but diffuser doesn’t start
- The diffuser may have malfunctioned or there has been a detected fault
- Turn off the diffuser and unplug from the power source
- Empty the diffuser and allow to cool down for a bit
- Refill the diffuser at the correct water level
- Reconnect and restart the diffuser
- If the diffuser doesn’t start up, it may need to be checked by a professional for assessment or repair
Using a diffuser to use essential oils is very convenient. However, you also need to remember that you need to clean and maintain it regularly to ensure that it doesn’t get damaged. Read your particular diffuser’s manual to learn how to effectively clean your unit yourself and also know the proper way how to use it to prevent damage from occurring in the first place.
Thanks for all the info. One of my Young Living diffusers shuts off early before all the water is diffused. About half is left. Do you have any tips for me?
Hi Brenda, hmmm… it sounds like it’s getting tired for sure. I know some YL diffuser experts, the folks at Diffuser Doc, and they’ve posted their best tips on fixing YL diffusers here. You may have to replace the ultrasonic disc… that article will help you with that! 🥰 Hope this helps.
Greetings Emma and all,
Thanks for the tip about the vinegar.
I’ve had my PureSpa diffuser for about a year, using it mostly at night, most evenings.
Last week I started it up and it would only blink, then shutdown.
I filled the tank about 1/2 way with vinegar and kept pushing the on button until it stayed on ( and not blink ). It stopped with the vinegar about 1/4 of the way down the tank, I added water to about 1/2 full and it ran until it emptied. Used a paper towel edge and qtips to clean the inside of the tank.
Hope it continues to work as I enjoy the humidity while I sleep, especially during the winter months when our furnace sucks the humidity out of the air.
Good fortune and a blessed New Year to you.
I now have a working diffuser again thanks to your cleaning advice! Vinegar did the trick. Thank you so much for sharing this, I was going to have to throw it out otherwise! So pleased right now.
So glad I could help! Hooray!! Thanks for posting.
What if my diffuser (brand is Kinga) spits water from the sides and runs all of the water out fast? And I clean it weekly sometimes daily cause I like switch to my smells.
My diffuser lid constantly gets stuck. I clean my diffuser every few days and actually soak the lid in hot soapy water …. still sticks. I have had to toss out 2 diffusers because the lid gets completely stuck and i cannot get it off. Please help. I cannot afford to keep purchasing diffusers
Hi Rhonda, I totally understand how frustrating it can be to have the same problems with your diffuser over and over. Would you mind sharing what diffuser model you have? I just want to see what kind you have so I can better help troubleshoot.
I’m having the same exact problem. I have a BlueHills 1000 ml one (it’s big). I’ve broken a few fingernails trying to pry this thing off and have spilled water. I couldn’t find any information on their website about how to fix this. I have had this issue with smaller diffusers in the past. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated…..because I do love this diffuser, just getting the top off…..it’s a nightmare and sometimes I just give up. I’ve tried wiping the sides with warm water but no luck. Thank you for any tips you might have!
How come that I cannot open my oil diffuser
Hi Ingrid, what type of diffuser do you have? Plastic, glass, battery-operated…? Please provide more details so I can help troubleshoot. Thank you!
I also had the diffuser turning off after a couple of seconds even though it was pretty full. A good clean and put water back in and voila it works like new.
Very informative information here. Of course some devices will go faulty but this is an excellent check
list.
Thank you so much!! Glad you found my tips to clean your diffuser so helpful!
Hi can you help… Have you any idea where I can get a replacement rubber seal / gasket for my electric oil Diffuser please? Thank you!
Hi Teresa, my friends at Diffuser Doc (http://www.diffuserdoc.com) may be able to help out! They have a lot of repair kits and diffuser parts. Plus, they’re real experts at repairing diffusers, so you’d be in good hands!
I press the power button and my diffuser turns on briefly, (a second) but immediately turns off.
I’ve seen this error a bunch of times, sometimes with USB/portable diffusers it’s simply the battery that has ran out and needs a charge. In a corded diffuser, check the power plug is working properly. Next, some diffusers also do this behavior if their water tank is TOO FULL, and also if it’s TOO EMPTY. Check to make sure you haven’t over-filled (or under-filled) the water. Last but not least, please have a look through your diffuser manufacturer’s instruction manual for more help on your specific model.
Hello. I think I have a fan issue. I get sputters and no diffusing to speak of. I have tried cleaning the plate an the unit, to no avail. How would one clean the fan, or even check to see if working?
Thank you!
This advice worked great! I had noticed my oil diffuser I’ve had for almost 3 years was acting like it didn’t have enough power. Besides running vinegar water through it, I also cleaned the fan. It works good as new now!
So glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing your experience with cleaning your diffuser.
Hi. Thank you soo much for your advice about cleaning it with a bit of vinegar.
I have a Sage diffuser and I’ve had it for years. After I cleaned it, it is misting nicely again.
I thought I had to buy a new one!! Maybe it’ll last a few more years. The motor is noisier now
though.