If you’re a fan of essential oils, or know someone who is, you may have heard of tea tree oil and all that it has to offer. Tea tree oil is basically oil extracted from the plant Melaleuca alternifolia, and though it is actually toxic if consumed orally, it can provide many benefits when used on the skin or as a cleaning agent. Tea tree oil has been used for years as a topical treatment for acne, dandruff, various kinds of fungus, and other external skin conditions. In addition, it can be used in a number of household chores and can serve as an antiseptic cleaner as well as an enhancement to your laundry detergent. Let’s take a look at these diverse tea tree oil uses in more detail:

Tea Tree Oil Uses for Your Body

1 Acne
There are a number of ways you can use tea tree oil to treat your acne. One of the ways is to apply it topically to your face; you can do this by creating a mixture that is 5% tea tree oil in a solution of witch hazel or water. Another way is to use 15% tea tree oil and rub it directly onto your pimple as a spot treatment. (Be sure to use a cotton swab and not your bare hands that could spread bacteria!) You can also add it to your nightly face mask regimen to boost its results. Just make sure to stay out of the sun, since tea tree oil can make your skin more sensitive.

2 Scars
Just as tea tree oil excels at removing acne, it can help to make your acne scars (and other scars) fade as well. Make a solution of 15% tea tree oil and 85% water, and apply it to the spot directly every day. Another thing you might do is to buy a specialized tea tree oil soap and wash with that daily.

3 Warts
Warts are really just evidence of a virus, so only your body can really fight it off on its own. Be that as it may, tea tree oil can help it along in many cases and hasten the wart’s demise. Treatment is very simple: put a drop of tea tree oil on the offending blemish and then cover it with a bandage.

4 Yeast Infections
Yeats infections can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Since they are caused by an excess of the natural vaginal fungus, you can treat it by soaking in a tub of salt water with about 10 drops of tea tree oil.

5 Sores
The same as with acne spot treatment, put a diluted amount on the top of cotton swab and gently apply it to your sore.

6 Dandruff
Release several drops of the oil onto your head and rub it into your scalp. Let it sit overnight before washing your hair in the morning. Avoid getting it in your eyes while you do this. Or you can add few drops of tea tree oil to your regularly used shampoo and wash your hair with this.

7 Lice
Dealing with a lice epidemic near you? Add a few drops to your shampoo before you wash and this could help prevent lice.

8 Fungus
Make a solution of salt water with several drops of tea tree oil and soak the affected area. Make sure that there are no open wounds on your skin before you do this, or it could definitely sting or get irritated.

9 Earaches
The ear, nose, and throat are all connected. Because of this, one good way to treat earaches with tea tree oil is to inhale steam that has been infused with it. You can also try rubbing some oil on the bottom of your ear.

10 Psoriasis
Just as you would when you treat dandruff, apply the oil to the affected area and rub it in, preferably with something like a cotton swab or cotton ball if the area is small enough.

11 Deodorant
Tea tree oil is very effective against armpit smell due to its antibacterial properties and works better than many commercial deodorants. Place 1-2 drops of tea tree on your finger and rub into your underarm, you should be smelling fresh for hours. You can use it as a regular deodorant to prevent odor.

12 Mild Burns
Just as with any other scar, tea tree oil can help lessen the appearance of scars from burns. If it is a severe burn, seek medical attention immediately. For milder burns whose unsightliness is more the issue, apply a small amount of tea tree oil with a cotton swab. Do not overdo this!

Now, there are many more tea tree oil uses than just those for your skin and body. You can use tea tree oil around the house as well:

Tea Tree Oil Uses for Your Home

13 Laundry
In order to disinfect your clothes using a natural method, release a few drops of tea tree oil in your next load of laundry. This will make your clothes cleaner and fresher because of its antibacterial properties.

14 Air Freshener
Add a few drops to some water and put it in a spray bottle for a natural air freshener spray that will keep your bathroom smelling nice. Make sure it is well-diluted and avoid spraying it into the eyes.

15 Household Cleaner
One of the best tea tree oil uses is as a general cleaning agent. Combine three cups of water, half a cup of vinegar, and about 10 drops of tea tree oil and you have an all-natural, all-purpose household cleaner. Use it on counter tops, in the grout of your shower, in your sink; its antimicrobial properties will help sanitize as it cleans.

16 Eco-Friendly Pest Repellent for the Garden
Want to keep the ants, fleas, and other annoying critters out of your back yard? Apply tea tree oil to the obvious problem areas and you will find that insects will avoid your property. If your problem is flies constantly buzzing around your garbage pails, rub some on the inside of your garbage bags and the flies may stop dropping in.

17 Mosquito Repellent
You can apply it directly to your skin, or dilute it with a thicker oil like olive oil so that it might last longer. The smell of the tea tree oil will help keep mosquitoes from detecting you as a possible victim, since they use their sense of smell to try to find you and the odor of the tea tree oil can overwhelm them.

As you can see, tea tree oil has many uses, and can often replace harsher substances. Learn as much as you can about this incredible essential oil, and start using it at home as your go-to solution.