Looking for a safe and natural way to fight mold -- aka "mildew" -- in your home? Try tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil. It's a very effective essential oil with powerful topical antibacterial and antifungal properties. Tea tree oil is commonly referred to as a "universal antiseptic" and "first aid in a bottle" due to its ability to fight many types of harmful bacteria and fungi -- both on our bodies and in our homes!

Mold in the home can be a very serious problem, capable of causing significant health problems in your family. Allergies, asthma, headaches, low energy, sinus problems, and even depression have all been linked to over-exposure to household mold -- just to name a few. Obviously, the most important thing is to keep moisture to a minimum and not let anything in your home remain damp for an extended period of time. But leaks and spills do happen. And when they do, tea tree oil is one of your best weapons in the fight against mold.

As soon as you see any mold or notice a musty smell in your home, spray the problem area or item with a mixture of tee tree oil and purified water. It's best to mix two teaspoons of high-quality tea tree oil (available in most health food stores) with two cups of water in a heavy-duty spray bottle. You can make the solution stronger by adding a little more oil but remember that this is strong stuff. A little goes a long way when it comes to essential oils, especially tea tree oil!

After you spray something with the tea tree oil solution, it will have a very strong smell. Don't rinse it off! The smell will dissipate within a couple of days and the mold will be gone. Just be sure that the source of the moisture that caused the mold in the first place has been removed.

The great thing about using natural cleaners like tea tree oil is that you can avoid the negative health effects of using toxic chemicals (eg., bleach and ammonia). There is a good chance that many of the household cleaners most people use are more dangerous than the things they're used to clean up! Who cares if you have a spotless bathroom if you're subjecting yourself to harsh chemicals that can eventually give you cancer. Fortunately, just about all chemical cleaners can be replaced by safe, natural alternatives like white vinegar, lemon oil, 3% hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil and others.