oil sediments??

[Marlee]

Hi all,

I have a bottle of oil that I have been refilling since I opened shop over a year and a half ago. It is Jojoba scented with absolute rose essential oil. On the bottom of the bottle, there is a dark greyish residue. I noticed it on the bottom of my lavender a while back too, but I used that one quite a bit and dumped what was left, sanitized the bottle and pump and refilled it. It has been 2 months now and it is free and clear of sediments.

Question....

Are these sediments?? Or something nasty growing on the bottom of the bottle?? I have other bottles and dont have this problem.

Anyone else have this problem??

Ladeeda

 

[academicns]

It's something nasty: mold and mildew growing in the water.

Always clean, sanitize and sterilize your refillable containers between fills.

 

[slugger]

I also go with the something nasty... I minored in Microbiology in College... anything black, green or even whitish, chunky stuff floating... anything that doesn't belong there is not a good sign.

I would honestly invest in a 2nd or even 3rd bottle. That way you can always have a spare and have time to sanatize the other when it empties... Even if the shelf life of the carrier oil has a long time to break down... the essential oil will effect it. Plus if something started growing in there it doesn't matter what it is growing in... it isn't good for your client. Yucky!!!

 

[Isa Bella]

Howd this stuff get in there?? Why is it in one bottle and not another?? This is something they never told about in school. THe oil doesnt smell bad... How to sanitize the pumps?? There always seems to be a bit of oil in them even when I run soapy water through them.

I did dump the bad ones.... but how to prevent it from happening in the future?? Should I always plan on dumping the last inch of oil out of the bottle??

Ladeeda

 

[Chewyrite]

Should I always plan on dumping the last inch of oil out of the bottle??

Ladeeda

I don't think that's the answer. Since you're working with a pump, it pumps from the bottom of the bottle.

Steph!

 

[Kimberly]

Howd this stuff get in there??

When you pump out oil then air from the room goes in to replace it. The moisture in the air condenses into the bottle. Water is denser than oil. The water sinks to the bottom.

Why is it in one bottle and not another??

You get the most air in the bottles you use the most often. Those bottles will accumulate more water than the others.

This is something they never told about in school.

I was told about this in school. My A/P instructor was a nurse, she understood pathology. She emphasized the importance of changing out the oil and cleaning the bottle at regular intervals - not more than six months. The problems are there long before you can see or smell them.

Oils other than jojoba gradually go rancid. Nut and vegetable oils are food! Don't buy more than you can use in six months (one year at the most). Store unused oils in the refrigerator or freezer. Label containers with the date of purchase.

How to sanitize the pumps??

Wash and flush with hot water and detergent, like dawn. Soak in boiling water. Flush with alchohol to dry and remove residual water and oil.

 

[Foof]

How about throwing the whole thing; tube included, into the washing machine?

 

[Pompal 09.]

As far as pumps being a challenge, you'll usually find the tube of the pump can be pulled out of the pump bit, once you pull that out, it's much easier to clean/sanitise/dry the pump.

If it's a fairly unrefined jojoba you're using, it could be particles of the jojoba seeds that are starting the whole process, plus the bottle contributing, if the oil is highly processed, it's probably your bottle starting the process.

 

[Mrs.Darcy]

How about throwing the whole thing; tube included, into the washing machine?

 

[John Carriere]

It is a good idea to have several bottles. I notice that the bottom of the pump itself gets dirty after one or two days use. So I now have six pump bottles and wash each one completely out at the end of each day.

Washing machine may work but you are wasting a lot of water- you could put them in the dishwasher--or soak in vinegar/water solution.