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.
Aves
Tried your white vinegar trick and within a minute or two my diffuser started working better than it ever has! Thanks, this was super helpful. :)
Emma
Amazing thank you, I am glad to hear it! ?
Joy
My diffuser drips water inside it. It is quiet but the dripping is driving me crazy. Is there one out there that doesn’t drip?
Emma
Hi Joy- In my experience, they all make a light water gurgling noise as the water gets “sucked” into the diffuser plate, and then proceeds to turning the water and essential oil mixture into mist. Most people find the light water noise quite “zen”.. :)
Rodayan
Mine drips too. It’s not constant enough to be zen, and just often enough to be really, really annoying. Any ideas?
Ching Ying
Hi there,
I bought young living usb diffuser 2 years ago.
Stopped using for sometime and now couldn’t function. Probably due to not cleaning well.
Could anyone help me please?
Thank you
Emma
Hi Ching Ying, you could try to get a repair kit from DiffuserDoc.com
Mary
What makes my diffuser spit water out the top of it
Emma
Mary, please make sure you’ve only filled your unit to the max line. To be on the safe side, you can also go a bit lower. I’ve found that when I overfill my diffuser, it tends to splatter and sputter as well, and sometimes doesn’t even mist. Take out some water.
Tiffany
That’s not it. There’s barely any water in mine right now and it’s still doing it.
Jenn
My diffuser worked super. Until it decided to start spitting water out the top of it.
No. I am not filling it up past the Max Fill Line. It happens if I fill it a quarter towards the Max Fill Line.
No. I am not running it on a quilt or an uneven surface that could impact the air intake.
Yes, I have tried running it with plain water for about 15 mins (with paper towels rolled into a tube and secured with elastic around the unit below the spout to catch all the spray) and then rinsing it out and doing that again over and over.
I have tried swabbing the little opening inside of the liquid reservoir with vinegar on a cotton swab.
I have tried letting it sit with some vinegar in there just to soak and then wipe it out and run water through.
Any suggestions?
Jamee
I’ve used my YL diffuser about 10 times in almost a years time, cleaned it regularly, now it bubbles, but no mist. May just go back to using a pan on the stove and a timer! Seems like these diffusers are trouble prone.
Debbie
Hi. I have the ‘cloud’ diffuser from Saje. This is the third one Inhave after I keep taking it back because it malfunctions. It sometimes stays in until the water runs out (which is what Ibwanr through the night) and other times it stops after only 5 minutes! – Even after I have cleaned it with rubbing alcohol all around and with a Q-tip in the center circle. Has anyone used the “vinegar method” with a Saje diffuser? – Is it safe to try this? ..or if you have this problems as well with your Saje difusser, how did you resolve it?
Jennifer
My diffuser hums and lights up but the water stays room temp and no mist forms. I had it in cool place in a box for 3 to 4 months while we moved. Please help
Melissa
My diffuser is splashing out water when it runs so that it only runs like 5 mins max. It splashes water out that it like wets the whole area around the diffuser. Anyone know why?
Stacy
I have an Art Natural diffuser. I used it twice and now the steam doesn’t want to come out of the top. I have let it sit for over a month to dry out and tried different water levels. It bubbles and steams and when I put the top on no steam comes out? Suggestions
Gayle Dittmer
I have the aria diffuser that will not steam. What can I do?
Ana
I have a young living dewdrop
diffuser, which among several others is my favorite. Recently my son was using it because he had a cold and when he returned it the small round plastic insert on top was stuck. I finally managed to remove it and realized that something happened to the plastic supporting it. It feels all gooey and appears to have been affected by the essential oils. I tried to clean it with alcohol which did not improve the situation much. Any advice?
Jen
Hey! I have the Aria from YL and after a year, it will turn on but it wont diffuse. There is a tiny bubble of water but it doesnt do more than that. Of course the warranty is expired, so YL said i could try replacing the ultrasonic plate. I took mine out and cleaned it off with vinegar and now nothing happens:( any ideas?
debbie
I just got an imist aroma diffuser for Christmas and it was returned now I have a new one
I filled it with water to the fill marker.
It tells you to press once press again to lock in the colour it stays on two seconds. What is happening with this.
Lisa
I just got my oil diffuser and I put one oil scent into it for the first time. Afterwards, I emptied it and cleaned it out with a cloth, some rubbing alcohol, water, then wiped it dry. I still smell the scent of the oil I used even after cleaning it. Is there any way to remove this oil scent from the diffuser??? I don’t want it to ruin my essential oil experience when I try a different scent.
Emma
Hi Lisa, sounds like you did everything right. Sometimes cleaning with a vinegar solution will help as well to kill previous smells. You can find the steps in this article above. I do find that depending on the plastic/quality of your diffuser, some diffusers will just maintain a stronger “leftover” smells than others. Dry out your diffuser well by leaving it opened out on the counter for a few days. Sometimes the smell will dissipate like that. It also depends on the first oil you put in. If it was a citrus oil such as lemon, you might be out of luck as those oils strongly react with plastics and can leave lasting smells in your diffuser. I always recommend to not use Lemon in your main diffuser, or keep a 2nd little diffuser handy for those types of oils.
jill
first time using my Innogear diffuser and it constantly beeps when plugged in and lights nor diffuser work, any ideas what’s wrong? water level is just below max. line.
Thank you.
Emma
Hi Jill, perhaps post this question to Innogear directly, or if you purchased it on Amazon, go through buyer support there. That’s the most direct line as they will know their own product best!
Linda
Anyone having problems with diffuser Oils pitting anything the Oils come in contact with. I have my diffuser on night stand and have my reading glasses next to diffuser. The lenses are all of a sudden pitted. Wondered if anyone has had anything similar?
Faedemere
If you are diffusing citrus and the lenses of your glasses are plastic this can happen when the oils over time settle on the lenses. Move either your diffuser or your glass or put your glasses in a case.
Shell
I’m hearing more about Young Living diffusers not working. I had mine for about 18 months and it stopped working. Warranty expired of course. You think the warranty would be longer since you pay do much for it. I have stopped recommending this diffuser to my friends & family.
Kelly
I haven’t seen anything on “My diffuser won’t shut off”.
Not only can I not shut it off manually, it will not shut off automatically.
I have to plug it in and unplug it.
It runs fine, and diffuses beautifully, but I can’t fall asleep with it anymore, as it won’t shut off.
Please help.
Kelly
regina
Do Not use Vinegar in Young Living diffuser. It voids your warranty. Found out the hard way.
Karen gast
My samyo defusser is dripping from the bottom. Any ideas