45 Uses for Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a serious handyman; from healing to cleaning it is a go-to tincture for the home medicine cabinet and cleaning supply cupboard. Known for its antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, it also has antibiotic properties and helps aid against skin infections, rashes, burns, dandruff and more. Please note however, that it should not be used on babies younger than 6 months, nor should it be ingested.
Topical/Medicinal Uses
1. Laryngitis: Add 5 – 10 drops of oil and a pinch of sea salt to 1 cup of warm water. Gargle 2-3 times a day (do not swallow).
2. Acne: add 20 – 40 drops to your regular face soap or dab a very small amount directly on breakouts. You can also buy a tea tree oil soap like this one from The Soap Works (which has awesome reviews on our site!) and a gel treatment like this one from Thursday Plantation.
3. Coughs and Congestion: Add 5-10 drops to 1 ounce other oil and massage into chest and throat 2-3 times daily. Or add 1-2 drops to a pan of hot water and breathe in the steam.
4. Bad Breath: rinse with 1 ounce water and 1 drop oil (do not swallow). Can also be used in a homemade toothpaste recipe (mix with baking soda and coconut oil). Or you can buy this toothpaste from Desert Essence with tea tree oil in it.
5. Earache and Ear Infection: add 2 -3 drops to 2 tablespoons warmed (not hot!) olive oil. With a dropper drop a small amount into the ear and tilt head to one side for a moment. Use cotton swab to absorb oil.
6. Chapped Lips: add 1 or 2 drops of oil to lip balm and apply as necessary. Or keep a lip balm with tea tree oil in it on you all the time, like the awesome Badger Tea Tree & Lemon Lip Balm.
7. Canker Sores/Cold Sores: apply a drop or two of oil directly to infected area with a cotton swab, 2 times daily. Also, rinse with 1 ounce water and 1 drop oil (do not swallow).
8. Sore Throat: Add 2 drops of oil to 1 cup of warm water with pinch of sea salt and gargle 2-3 times a day (do not swallow).
9. Insect repellent: Add 15 drops to a quart of water and pour into a spray bottle.
10. Abrasions & minor cuts: after cleansing the area, apply a few drops of oil directly. If a bandage is needed, put a drop of oil onto the pad of a band-aid, then lay it face down on the wound (change daily).
11. Bruises: after icing, add 20 drops of oil to 2 ounces of other oil. Apply to area 2 – 3 times a day.
12. Warts: apply a drop or two of oil directly to infected area with a cotton swab, 2 times daily.
13. Arthritis: to help reduce pain, add 20 drops of oil to 2 ounces of other oil. Massage into area 2 – 3 times a day.
14. Lice: Add 20 drops to 2 tablespoons shampoo. Massage into scalp and hair, leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse. Repeat 3-4 times daily until eggs are gone.
15. Shingles: Add 10-15 drops of oil to half cup Epsom salts, and dissolve in bath. Add 10 drops of oil to 2 tablespoons coconut oil and massage well.
16. Athletes Foot: Clean feet thoroughly, especially between toes. Add oil directly to feet every two weeks, dusting with cornstarch after. Or add 10 drops of oil to 1 tablespoon of other oil and massage on feet and between toes daily.
17. Muscle Aches and Pains: Add 10-15 drops of oil to half cup Epsom salts, and dissolve in bath. Add 10 drops of oil to 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and massage well.
18. Burns: Run under cool water to soothe the area. After, mix of 5 drops oil with 1 teaspoon of raw honey and apply. Repeat 3-5 times a day.
19. Dandruff: add 20 – 30 drops to any shampoo. Or apply a few drops to the scalp and massage after washing.
20. Foot or Hand Nail Fungus: Add 1 – 2 drops of oil directly to nail and the surrounding tissue. Allow to dry completely on before touching anything or putting on socks. Repeat morning and night for a week.
21. Ingrown Hairs: Add 1 – 2 drops of oil directly to area. Repeat every 2 hours or until signs of infection disappear.
22. Jock Itch: Apply 10 – 15 drops of oil to 2 tablespoons of other oil. Apply 2 times daily. Dust with corn starch, to reduce chafing.
23. Dermatitis, Eczema or dry skin: add 5 – 10 drops to 1 tablespoon other oil and massage into affected areas. Repeat 2 -3 times daily.
24. Bug bites and stings (flea, mosquito, bee stings, spider bites): apply a drop directly onto bites.
25. Removes ticks: add a few drops to the area and the bug will usually unlatch and fall off.
26. Gum disease: make a mouthwash from purified water, 1 drop peppermint oil and 1 drop tea tree oil. Use daily.
27. Soothe sunburn: Mix 1 tablespoon coconut oil with 1 drop of tea tree and 1 drop of lavender oil and gently apply to sunburned areas.
28. Hives: add 10 drops of tea tree oil to coconut oil and gently apply to infected area.
29. Oily scalp: Add 10 drops of oil to 2 tablespoons shampoo. Massage into scalp and hair, leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse. Repeat 3 – 4 times daily.
30. Sore muscles: Fill your bathtub with warm water. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to the water to relax tight muscles.
31. Tattoos: Apply after tattoos to avoid infection. Use undiluted, diluted with coconut oil or as a spray with purified water.
32. Homemade natural deodorant: mix 1/3 cup baking soda with 1/2 cup cornstarch. Liquefy 5 tablespoons coconut oil and add 16 drops tea tree oil. Combine oils with powders and store in an airtight container. Or for a simpler version, buy the Green Beaver Tea Tree Oil Deodorant.
33. Aromatherapy: Use a drop or two of the oil on a warm washcloth and inhale to treat colds, viruses, coughs and toothaches.
34. Diaper rash: mix a few drops with another oil to soothe and heal, or get a bum cream with tea tree oil in it like the Earth Mama Organics Baby Diaper Balm.
Household Uses
35. Air freshener: Keep a supply of cotton balls soaked in tea tree oil in a zip-lock bag. When confronted with foul smells from cooking, musty odours from wet sports equipment or the stench of wet dog, take out a few of the cotton balls to freshen the air.
36. Household Cleaning: Can be added to homemade cleaners to kill germs and prevent the spread of colds and flus. You can make a general tea tree cleaner by combining 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend — it is especially good in the bathroom.
37. Laundry Helper: Add 1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil to your laundry for towels and other fabric prone to getting moldy. Also, if you forgot to put the clothes in the dryer, run again with tea tree oil to remove mildew. You can also scent wool dryer balls with tea tree oil.
38. Mildew and Mold Remover: Using a formula of one drop tea tree oil to one cup of water, spray down moldy areas. Allow the mixture to sit, and then wipe away. The tea tree oil should remove some of the staining and it will kill the underlying fungus so it won’t return.
39. Pest Control: Ants and other pests dislike tea tree oil, so a few drops put at the point of entry should deter them. Wipe cupboards out with an oil and water solution to keep ants away.
40. Toothbrush Cleaner: Apply oil directly to toothbrush 1-2 times a week to kill bacteria.
41. Wood treatment: Rub a tea tree oil solution into wood to help it resist insects. Don’t use this trick on wood you use around the kitchen or for eating, as tea tree oil is not safe to ingest, but it’s fine for deck furniture and indoor furnishings.
42. Moth fighter: Use tea tree oil-soaked cotton balls to fight moths and other insects in stored clothing.
43. Sports equipment deodorizer: Use tea tree oil’s odour-fighting power in the locker room. Tea tree rinses are excellent for sports clothes and equipment.
44. Remove soap and hard water stains: this natural cleaner is totally safe to use on your tile! Added bonus: the antimicrobial qualities of tea tree oil will prevent bacterial and fungal growth. Stubborn stains? Mix it with salt or baking soda to create a gentle abrasive cleaner.
45. Garbage Bin Deodorizer: Just 3 or 4 drops of tea tree oil in the bin helps to get rid of nasty smells. You can also use the general all purpose spray to give it a really good clean.
Tea tree oil is something you need to keep on hand all the time. It’s extremely versatile!
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