A lot of people believe there’s no way a natural product can be as powerful as a chemical based cleaner at eliminating germs – but they obviously haven’t used tea tree oil!

It’s amazing as a natural disinfectant – I use it in my home as part of my weekly cleaning routine because I hate using store-bought products… they make my nose run and my eyes itchy.

Kill germs naturally by using tea tree oil

We’ve written an article about how to use tea tree oil as a household cleaner, and there are heaps more recipes available online - just do a Google search.

The best place to start is the bathroom, because typically this is one of the places in our homes where germs can lurk. All you need to do is put a few drops of tea tree oil into some liquid soap, and use this to wipe down all surfaces – vanities, counter tops, faucets, door knobs… whatever you can wipe down!

During winter is the perfect time to incorporate tea tree oil into your household cleaning routine – it’s the best natural disinfectant you’ll ever find, and it’s very cheap to buy. Most drug stores, pharmacies and even some department stores will sell the oil – just make sure you buy 100% essential tea tree oil.

Does tea tree oil really work as a disinfectant?

Tea tree oil is distilled from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant – native to Australia. The oil contains antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it the ideal natural disinfectant for your home.

Did you know that just a 10% concentration of tea tree oil is strong enough to kill bacteria that causes staph infections? How’s that for powerful – no wonder it’s often referred to as “nature’s wonder in a bottle”!

A lot of bacteria will develop a resistance to most antibiotics that are used to treat staph, but they still remain vulnerable to tea tree oil.

Using tea tree oil for your household cleaning

My family and I have a routine for our weekend household cleaning – one that gets both of my kids involved too.

I grab a clean bucket, fill it with hot water and a squirt of castile soap and then add about 10-15 drops of tea tree oil. This water is then used to wipe down kitchen appliances, countertops, vanities, doorknobs, bathtubs, etc.

It’s safe for my girls to use – I don’t have to worry about them handling nasty, potent chemicals like bleach. The best thing is our home smells wonderful too!

Natural disinfectant for diapers and baby wipes

If you use cloth diapers, tea tree oil is very handy to have in your cleaning supplies. You can simply add a few drops of the oil to your diaper pail to sanitize and deodorize.

Baby wipes are expensive to buy (because they are used so often!), so you can make your own diaper spray for baby change times – as long as your baby doesn’t suffer from sensitive skin.

All you need to do is fill a spray bottle with water, add a squirt of liquid baby soap and a drop of tea tree oil, then spray this on a cloth to wipe down baby as needed.

If you’re on the go, just add a few drops of the oil to a wet cloth, place inside a zip-lock bag to have on hand during diaper changes.

Caution: Tea tree oil can be toxic if swallowed

Considering the potency of tea tree oil as a disinfectant, it’s no wonder that it’s toxic if ingested – click here for our article on the side efects of tea tree oil.

Always keep the oil away from small children and pets – and be aware that some people may have an allergic reaction if it comes in contact with skin. Most people are fine to use tea tree oil, but if you have sensitive skin it’s always a good idea to do a patch test first.