Cleaning a distiller (or any other equipment for example to obtain plant extracts) is not a one-size-fits-all process.

In this case, in essential oil distillation, we talk a lot about plants, harvest time, and yields.
But cleaning the equipment is just as important, and it needs to change depending on what was distilled before.

If you use the same distiller to distill the same plant again, the cleaning can be simpler.
If you use a distiller with one plant and then you move to a similar species (from example Lavandula angustifolia and after Lavandin), extra care is needed.
And if you switch to a completely different plant, proper cleaning becomes critical.

Without the right cleaning steps, compounds from a previous plant can remain in the system and later appear in the essential oil analysis. This can affect quality, traceability, and even lead to wrong conclusions about the oil’s composition.

That’s why I developed clear cleaning protocols (made together with an amazing consultant and professional - marco valussi ) depending on the situation, and asked a designer to turn them into visual step-by-step drawings.

These were created for an essential oil factory in Angola, so the rules could be clearly displayed in the distillation area and easily understood by everyone working there.
Sometimes, making things visible and practical is what really improves quality on the ground.

👉 The illustrations were made by a professional designer that is also my friend, happy to share the contact if anyone is interested.