Buyers Guide

In basic terms, ultrasonic cleaning is the process of placing an item in a tank of water and bombarding it with ultrasonic waves. In turn, the waves produce very small bubbles which get behind the dirt and grime to dislodge it. The sound is beyond the human audible level (ultrasonic). Most of the cleaning machines we sell have a frequency range of 42Khz, although the larger industrial cleaners operate at 28Khz.

How can sound waves clean your items?

Ultrasonic cleaning is a long standing, efficient and well proven process. Without getting too complicated, ultrasonic cleaners create a physical effect called "cavitation". This is where bubbles are formed when ultrasonic sound travels through a liquid. When the size of the sound wave increases to a level when water cannot hold it, the sound literally tears the water apart and millions of vacuumed bubbles are formed. The sizes of the vacuumed bubbles rapidly decrease until they collapse and implode. The action of these imploding bubbles releases tremendous amounts of energy. The huge amount of pressure released by each bubble as it implodes is responsible for the effective cleaning action. In simple terms, dirt is blasted from the nooks and crannies by lots of tiny bubbles getting behind the dirt and grime. 

measure twice purchase once

The ultrasonic cleaning takes place everywhere the liquid can reach. During the cleaning process the article being cleaned is submerged into water or cleaning solution, millions of microscopic sized bubbles created by the ultrasonic generator (transducer) are capable of reaching into fine cracks to clean very thoroughly. This phenomenon is especially useful for efficient cleaning of intricate patterns on, for example, fine jewellery.

Is an ultrasonic cleaner environmentally friendly?

Yes, because the main ingredient is water, we believe our range of ultrasonic cleaners are environmentally friendly, providing fantastic cleaning results. Ultrasonic cleaning technology is now a well recognised way to clean many different things and has been developed in an a way it is affordable for home use. That said, to give your jewellery the "wow" factor, you should also use a cleaning solution. -  click here

What can I clean using ultrasonic technology?

This list is almost endless. Provided the product is non porous and can be immersed in water, almost anything can be thoroughly cleaned. Here are some examples:


image of dentures being cleaned by soaking in a glass of water      woman wearing a large earing      image of oxygen bottles and scuba diving equipment       image of a watch covered with droplets of water after being cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner    BSA bantam motorcycle carburettor

  • Jewellery especially gold, silver & platinum
  • Watch straps & Waterproof Watches
  • Coins and other collectibles
  • Glasses & Sunglasses
  • PCB Boards etc
  • Engine / Model parts
  • Toothbrushes & Dentures
  • CD & DVD's (does not remove scratches)
  • Vinyl records & LP's
  • Engine Blocks
  • Carburettors
  • Ceramics
  • Paint spray guns
  • Tattooing equipment (ultrasonic cleaning does not sterilize)
  • Dental instruments
  • Veterinary instruments

    What jewellery should I avoid putting in an ultrasonic cleaner?

    There is very little you can't clean, but if you have any doubt we strongly recommend you contact the manufacturer of the particular item you want to clean first. 
  • DO NOT clean precious stones without gaining approval from a jeweller first. Ultrasonic cleaning is not suitable for certain types of precious stones. Please use the table below as a guide only

    Precious Stone Ultrasonic Clean   Precious Stone Ultrasonic Cleaning OK?
    Amber No   Opal No
    Amethyst No   Pearls No
    Aquamarine No   Perdot No
    Blue Topaz No   Rose Quartz No
    Citrine No   Ruby Yes
    Diamond Yes   Sapphire Yes
    Emerald No   Smoky Quartz No
    Garnet Yes   Tanzanite No
    Jade No   Topaz No
    Onyx No   Tourmaline No

For more information, we have a page of Frequently Asked Questions:
 
best ultrasonic cleaner frequently asked questions