Essential Oil Diffuser and PC Hardware Question

[TempestCatto]

Well hiya there. I've been wanting to get an essential oil diffuser to use at my desk at home. But I'm worried about vapourized oils getting into, and sticking to, my PC parts. I have on my desk currently four monitors, one built PC in a case (with lots of airflow), a built PC on the motherboard box, a pair of speakers, my wireless headphones, and chargers for some of my wireless electronics (along with keyboard and mouse). My worry is that having the diffuser so close to these electronics will kill or harm them. Any insight? Should I avoid the essential oil diffuser being in the same room as my PC stuff? Or is it safe to use next to all this stuff? Thanks!

[jaslion]

It will build up in anything that has airflow over time and unlike watervapour it doesn't just evaporate. So I'd advice to not have it be in the same room.

[TetraSky]

Avoid essential oils in the same room as your electronics. If you want something that "smells good", just get something like potpourri or some crap like that. 

[The Flying Sloth]

Avoid vapourising anything near electronics whether that be smoking, vaping or oils that smell nice.

[divito]

I'd say avoid essential oil diffusers in any room, but at the very least, it shouldn't be near electronics.

[Nine Tailed Fox]

Regular humidifier is fine right? I live in a desert climate

[cmcman21]

7 hours ago, Nine Tailed Fox said:

Regular humidifier is fine right? I live in a desert climate

yes because it is water and will evaporate away. As long as it's not right next to your PC shouldn't be an issue

 

[Roswell]

You would have to run a diffuser 24/7 for

22 hours ago, jaslion said:

It will build up in anything that has airflow over time and unlike watervapour it doesn't just evaporate. So I'd advice to not have it be in the same room.

 

22 hours ago, TetraSky said:

Avoid essential oils in the same room as your electronics. If you want something that "smells good", just get something like potpourri or some crap like that. 

 

22 hours ago, The Flying Sloth said:

Avoid vapourising anything near electronics whether that be smoking, vaping or oils that smell nice.

 

22 hours ago, divito said:

I'd say avoid essential oil diffusers in any room, but at the very least, it shouldn't be near electronics.

 

This isn't right.

 

Essential oils are volatile oil and evaporate at room temperature, like water. They're not leaving anything behind. You guys are thinking of fixed oils like vegetable oil, mechanical oil, etc.

 

@TempestCatto It's perfectly safe to use in a room with computers.

 

...I also don't use this stuff, this question just comes up a lot in tech communities.

[divito]

22 hours ago, Vitamanic said:

This isn't right.

 

Essential oils are volatile oil and evaporate at room temperature, like water. They're not leaving anything behind. You guys are thinking of fixed oils like vegetable oil, mechanical oil, etc.

 

@TempestCatto It's perfectly safe to use in a room with computers.

 

...I also don't use this stuff, this question just comes up a lot in tech communities.

I can only speak from experience, but there was an oily film all over the top of my TV stand where my ex used to keep her diffuser. Luckily all the electronics were underneath in a mostly protected cubby, but there was definitely something that had to be cleaned off consistently. 

My comment was more related to the pseudoscience of using essential oil diffusers at all, but additionally, the oily film would be concerning. She only used Young Living oils, so I don't really know how or why there was always residue from it.

[TetraSky]

6 minutes ago, divito said:

I can only speak from experience, but there was an oily film all over the top of my TV stand where my ex used to keep her diffuser. Luckily all the electronics were underneath in a mostly protected cubby, but there was definitely something that had to be cleaned off consistently. 

My comment was more related to the pseudoscience of using essential oil diffusers at all, but additionally, the oily film would be concerning. She only used Young Living oils, so I don't really know how or why there was always residue from it.

And you're right. Had that same experience. Essential oils (and other smell good oils from cheap brands like Airwick or Glade) do leave an oily film around the diffuser

Might not be noticeable if you wash the the surrounding often, but if you let it accumulate, you'll certainly notice it when dusting.

But would it affect electronics across the room? Probably not. Better to be safe than sorry though.

[Roswell]

1 hour ago, divito said:

I can only speak from experience, but there was an oily film all over the top of my TV stand where my ex used to keep her diffuser. Luckily all the electronics were underneath in a mostly protected cubby, but there was definitely something that had to be cleaned off consistently. 

My comment was more related to the pseudoscience of using essential oil diffusers at all, but additionally, the oily film would be concerning. She only used Young Living oils, so I don't really know how or why there was always residue from it.

 

48 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

And you're right. Had that same experience. Essential oils (and other smell good oils from cheap brands like Airwick or Glade) do leave an oily film around the diffuser

Might not be noticeable if you wash the the surrounding often, but if you let it accumulate, you'll certainly notice it when dusting.

But would it affect electronics across the room? Probably not. Better to be safe than sorry though.

Whatever is being left behind aren't "essential oils" as that is scientifically impossible. Again, I don't use this stuff so I really have no idea. Maybe whatever you guys used was cheap or mislabeled and had other ingredients.

[divito]

2 minutes ago, Vitamanic said:

Whatever is being left behind aren't "essential oils" as that is scientifically impossible. Again, I don't use this stuff so I really have no idea. Maybe whatever you guys used was cheap or mislabeled and had other ingredients.

Well, Young Living is not cheap, and supposedly doesn't "knowingly compromise by adding synthetics, contaminants, or cheap fillers." 

Very possible that there's other stuff, but as essential oils are fairly ridiculous, I don't much care. All "pure" Young Living essential oils that were used by my ex left residue, thus, don't leave near electronics.