http://www.care2.com/greenliving/tea-tree-oil-home-uses.html
5 Smart Housekeeping Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil
By Annie B. Bond
Australian tea tree oil is a broad spectrum germicide, fungicide, and bacteriacide.
The essential oil known as “tea tree oil” comes from the melaleuca tree, a shrub/tree that has needle-like leaves. There are 100 varieties of melaleuca, but for the purposes of this discussion we are speaking of Australian tea tree oil, or melaleuca alternifolia.
Tea tree oil has many uses for housekeeping. You can prove to yourself how well it works to kill mold and mildew with this simple test: Put 2 teaspoons of Australian tea tree oil in a spray bottle with two cups of water. Don’t rinse. Spray the mixture on something musty. Let the smell dissipate (it will take a few days). The smell of mold and must will be gone, too, never to return as long as the source of moisture has been removed.
Here are five smart ways to use Australian tea tree oil at home:
1. General Tea Tree Oil Spray
As mentioned above, combine 2 teaspoons of Australian tea tree oil in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend. Spray on mold and don’t rinse. The smell will dissipate in a few days.
2. Tea Tree Oil Grout Spray
Using the same formula as in #1, spray grout to repel mold and mildew. While this formula won’t take away the mold discoloration, it will kill the mold.
3. Musty Mold Remover
The must will be removed from anything using the above formula. Just don’t rinse.
4. Household Antiseptic Spray
Use the above formula to spray areas that need antiseptic attention, such as after someone has vomited.
5. Laundry Helper
Add 1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil to your laundry for towels and other fabric prone to getting moldy.
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7 comments
add your comment »Tea Tree Oil spray, full strength, kills fungi. My husband used it daily, after showering, on his toenails for about 6 weeks. It kept him from having to take that expensive medication and cleared the fungus completely.with no side effects except the smell. ;)
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why is this inappropriate?
Melaleuca altinifolia or commonly known as tea tree oil is great for burns. I received a very bad burn after touching the heat coil in the bottom of dishwasher(yes I should have know it was hot). I ended up with a white singe burn mark on my palm. Immediately, I put tea tree oil on it, followed with a lotion containing tea tree oil. I continued to apply both several times throughout the evening. The burn never blistered or left any type of scare. (This was a burn which hurt so bad that I thought I may to have to make a trip to the emergency room.) Needless to say, I am a firm believer in the healing properties of tea tree oil.
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I know this article is about cleaning with Tea Tree Oil, but I saw other users mentioned using it for acne & skin infections. I do the same & it really does work well.
Another use I have found for it is a pesticide, for prevention. I am going to try using it for the musty smell in my carpets today after reading this article. Thanks!
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I use a tree tea oil spray in my shower for mold on the grout. I spray it on and then take a old toothbrush to scrub away mold. While it is not 100% effective, it is much better than using a harsh chlorine bleach spray.
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Tea tree oil is great, I have used it for years However, it is highly toxic to cats so I would never use it for cleaning. Be cautious if you have cats and use it in the house. It only takes a small amount of tea tree oil to kill a cat.
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I just tried Tea Tree oil and put on a blemish that was on my face and it cleared up very quickly. Good stuff. But what kills mold that has developed in showers?
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I live in a basement apartment in GA, will
try this and let you know if it works as I have
much mold and musty odor. I use Tea Tree oil
for skin infections works great, use TEA Tree Oil shampoo..(Austrailia).
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