Research has shown that there is at least ten pounds of chemicals found in the cleaning products of each household. Tea Tree Oil is a good alternative to use to reduce the amount of chemicals found in your home. Are you comfortable with this estimate? I wasn't and that is why I have started using tea tree oil, I love it! The smell is a little pungent at first, but the benefits far out weigh this issue.

The oil is derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree in Australia. It is a awesome essential oil. The Aboriginal people in Australia have been using the oil for many generations. It is a great anti-bacterial agent, soothes aching muscles, dries canker soars, takes the itch out of insect bites, soothes burns, kills head lice, removes tree sap, removes blood stains, the list is endless. My husband uses it on his canker soars, completely drying them up within three days. He has yet to find an over-the-counter remedy offered specifically for this ailment that compares. My children both ask for it by name every time they have an itch. This is oil can always be found at my home, we don't go without it.

Tree tea oil has natural antiseptic, antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. It should not be ingested, but I have used toothpaste containing it. Recently, it has been praised for its non-medicinal uses as well.

1. It is a great decongestant. You can use it in any vaporizer or dehumidifier. It disinfects the air and keeps viruses away. You can add it to your laundry to disinfect that as well. Six to eight drops are all you need to add to a load of laundry. This also will removed any odors that you may have been fighting to remove from your laundry.

2. Add it to any homemade cleaner to boost its cleaning power. It is a awesome grease fighter. It will break down the grease for an easy wipe away clean. Works great on soap scum removal as well. A great homemade all-purpose cleaner is three to four drops tea tree oil, two tablespoons of vinegar, and one tablespoon of borax. Put mixture into a twelve ounce bottle and fill with warm water. Shake well to dissolve the solution and use as you would any other cleaner.

3. Add a drop or two of oil to your soap dispenser in your dishwasher prior to adding your soap will boost its cleaning power and disinfect the dishes. Remember, it is a great grease fighting agent.

4. Add six to eight drops to your shampoo and shake well. Head lice will not attach to hair follicles cleaned with tea tree oil. I never get scared when I get a head lice advisory home from school, I know I have protected my children by adding the oil to their shampoo. You can also find some formulas online with the oil already added to the ingredients.

5. It is also a great combat against ants. Put a few drops of oil in the point of entry to the house for ants and it will deter any further ant entry. You should do this every couple of weeks to refresh its strength. If you have trouble with roaches, wiping down your cupboards with tea tree oil mixed with water will deter them as well.

The tips listed here are just a simple beginning to the many uses for this essential oil. You can find many books devoted to its uses at Amazon. If used properly you can ensure your house is toxin free and as clean as it possibly can be. Remember the oil should only be used topically, not ingested in any way. As with any product available, it has its uses and should be used with care.