The way to Use Tea Tree Oil for Walls

Tea tree oil contains multiple properties, but one of the very mysterious is its ability to kill mould on moist walls. For homeowners who are loathe to use caustic cleaners such as bleach to clean their toilet walls, floors and other regions of the house where moisture collects and forms mold or mildew, tea tree oil is a viable, green alternative.

Tea Tree Oil Definition

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of this tea tree, or Melaleuca Alternifolia, of Australia. It is often used medicinally to treat everything from skin rashes to infections. Some even feel this pungent oil could be instrumental in helping to improve immunity, though, according to The American Cancer Society, science has yet to establish it. Besides its potential therapeutic properties, tea tree oil is also a fungicide, making it an eco-friendly solution for tackling mold.

Tackling Mold With Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil can be found in many health food stores, sold commercially as an essential oil. To utilize the power of tea tree oil to conquer mould and mildew inside your house, dilute the oil in water, using a ratio of 2 tablespoons of oil to 2 cups of water. With a spray bottle, spritz it on the affected area of wall. Allow the oil sit on the mould without rinsing it away. Drawbacks to using this oil contain a strong, unpleasant odor and a somewhat heavy price tag. And although it can be inhaled without causing harm, tea tree oil is extremely toxic if ingested, causing a wealth of diseases ranging from hallucinations to coma.

Fungicidal Studies

Although Australians are using tea tree oil for centuries, although perhaps not many clinical studies are performed detailing just how the oil functions, though, according to The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, evidence exists of its fungicidal properties. The oil has proven beneficial in treating athlete’s foot and toenail fungus and also in helping to treat the staph infection MRSA, however additional wide-scale studies are essential to discover precisely why and how well tea tree oil functions as a fungicide.

Safety and Precautions

Maintaining a bottle of tea tree essential oil around the home for cleaning purposes is safe, but precautions must be taken to maintain the undiluted oil away from children and pets. When stored properly away from sunlight and heat, tea tree essential oil has a shelf life of approximately 12 to 18 weeks. You must wear gloves when cleaning using tea tree oil. Once diluted, the dangers are few, but undiluted oils can lead to skin reactions, including rashes.

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