How Does an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Work?

Before you buy an ultrasonic cleaner, it is a wise choice to learn how does an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner work!

The same goes before you use an ultrasonic cleaner which came as a gift!

And, this is exactly what this post delivers!

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners use ultrasound waves to get rid of dirt and grime from your pieces.

These electronic devices have a special part named transducer, which produces ultrasonic frequency waves inside the stainless steel tank.

These high-frequency waves form popping microscopic bubbles in the cleaning solution, enhancing pressure differences reaching every small cavity and hook.

These ultrasonic sound waves are above the human audible limit.

They create pressure and bubbles in the cleaning solution, which help dirt get loose and separated from your pieces.

To learn more about the details on how ultrasonic cleaners work, keep on reading!

An ultrasonic jewelry for jewelry is like your washing machine to your clothes.

In a washer, you put in your clothes, add the detergent, choose the program and press start.

When it finishes your t-shirts and pullovers are all laundered.

Similarly, a ultrasonic jewelry cleaner give your pieces back clean and shiny.

Nevertheless, it has a different working style.

An ultrasonic jewelry cleaner takes off the dirt particles and oil accumulated without any physical movement: no turning or spinning here.

It does clean your jewelry thanks to oscillations and popping air bubbles!

These waves cannot be heard by us.

But, they do create pressure and micro-bubbles, which loosen the dirt and oil from jewelry.

An ultrasonic cleaner is a time machine for your jewelry.

It takes them back to day 1 where they were bright and shiny.

The ultrasonic cleaner makes its magic using sound waves.

These are not random noises you would want to avoid.

They are ultrasonic waves which you cannot hear.

The human ear has a frequency range of 20 to 20Khz.

We can only hear sounds in this spectrum.

All other frequencies are inaudible for us.

Even so, the fact that they cannot be heard does not mean they do not exist.

Ultrasonic waves have higher frequencies, above the top limit of our audible spectrum.

Thanks to these waves, accumulated dust, oil and dirt from jewelry pieces get loose and separated for good.

These waves create pressure differences and agitations in the stainless steel tank.

The heat and pressure causes bubble formation, which do pop and loosen the dirt particles even more.

Thanks to these waves and bubbles, we are able to clean dirt from the hardest places.

While it may be really hard to clean jewelry like a gold chains or delicate items with fine details, the ultrasonic cleaner gets the job done easily every time.

Had you chosen to clean jewelry manually, you would spend much more time, and it would not be the same every time.

This is why professionals use ultrasonic cleaners.

 

Do you need an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner?

If you have a vast jewelry collection, you may want to have a dedicated device at home.

It will give back your time as well as the pieces all bright and clean every time. You will win back the cleaning time and the time lost on the way to your jeweler for professional cleaning.

You may choose between an ultrasonic cleaner and a steam cleaner. These use different methods for cleaning your jewelry. To learn the differences between these options, check our ultrasonic vs steam jewelry cleaner post.

In either case, you will no longer have to go your local jeweler for cleaning.

You can clean your pieces whenever you want: day or night even on holidays.

Another good reason to by a ultrasonic device is cleaning your jewelry pieces with hard to reach areas at a higher level.

Not every piece is flat and plain.

There are pieces with curves and dents and chains and carved designs and many more. While the details may add to your pleasure, they are harder to clean. Ultrasonic devices can take care of these types of jewelry with ease.

On the other side, if you do not own a lot of pieces, then you do not really need to buy a cleaner for your jewelry.

Moreover, not all jewelry is suitable for being cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner.

If your collection has lots of organic jewelry pieces, precious stones with heat treatment, gems with cracks and fillings or softer gemstones, a ultrasonic device may not be a wise purchase.

Check if your jewelry plays well with a ultrasonic jewelry cleaner before ordering.

Why should we prefer a ultrasonic jewelry cleaner instead of manual cleaning process?

While you clean your jewelry by hand, there is no fixed standard session.

You may think you use the exact amount of cleaning solution; you wipe or brush for the same duration and exercise the same pressure.

However, that is dead wrong.

There will be differences every time.

Moreover, jewelry pieces have hard to reach edges and curves where foreign particles accumulate, which take more time.

Cleaning these parts is not the most enjoyable usage of your time.

And the amount of jewelry tends to increase over time.

After all, you can never have enough.

 

How to use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner

1. Fill the tank.

You’ll have to use a solution to fill the container.

Many prefer filling the container with cold water while some choose to use a cleaning solution.

In any case, you should fill the container with a suitable liquid.

You may buy a commercial solution or prepare a homemade recipe for your ultrasonic cleaner.

Never use abrasives or harsh chemical with your ultrasonic device.

You may want to use warm water but never boiling water, which may damage your jewelry.

Warm water will aid the process, and the dirt will get loose faster.

Of course, if your ultrasonic cleaner has a built in heater, just pour in cold water and it will take care of the heating itself.

2. Place your jewelry in the basket and lower into the container

Do not overfill the basket.

The water surface should be above all jewelry pieces.

Make sure the tank is not crowded and your items are not over one another.

So, put in the optimum amount of dirty jewelry in for each clean session.

3. Check the time or program

Consult your manual to decide on the cleaning cycle length.

Usually, two-ten minutes is enough to clean the jewelry.

Some cleaners come with a single cleaning cycle, while some machines comes with a digital timer with built-in presets like Magnasonic’s professional ultrasonic jewelry cleaner model MGUC500.

4. Rinse and dry

Don’t forget to rinse the jewelry in clean cold water to get rid of the residues of dirt and cleaning liquid.

Afterwards, dry your pieces with a soft cloth.

Ultrasonic devices are useful products that make life easier and your jewelry collection clean and shiny.

They take the dirt out and put back the luster in jewelry.

They are simple to use and make cleaning bliss.

They give the best cleanse every time you use them no matter when.

There are different models on the market.

Small and big containers, models with heaters and UV light technology,
with presets and more.

Make sure you check our best ultrasonic jewelry cleaners review post to make the right decision.

 

The Bottom Line

Ultrasonic cleaning machines are wonderful devices that clean your bling in minutes.

Within 10 minutes or less, you’ll have your piece of jewelry clean and shiny like the first day.

All this magic comes from the high-frequency sound waves that create vibrations, cavitation and millions of micro – bubbles.

These water movements and popping bubbles loosen dirt and oil from the pieces, including those in the hardest places.

Moreover, these devices go beyond jewelry. A ultrasonic cleaning device can also be used to clean eyeglasses and dental pieces.

Nonetheless, you should not use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean every type of jewelry. You should avoid pearls, lapis lazuli, onyx, amber, turquoise and other soft gemstones.

Organic pieces like shells, feather or crab pincers should never enter a ultrasonic devices

These too delicate for high frequency ultrasonic vibrations.

Cleaning your jewelry with an ultrasonic cleaner is bliss.

And knowing how does an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner work doubles it!

Related questions

1. How long should you leave your jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner?

An ultrasonic jewelry cleaner is not a sauna for your jewelry.

There is no need to leave your jewelry in the solution for hours.

Always follow instructions given in the producer’s manual.

Use an ultrasonic cleaner as described by the manufacturer.

Many ultrasonic jewelry cleaners have preset choices such as 120, 240 or 300-second sessions.

After the machine stops you can take out your jewelry.

2. Are ultrasonic cleaners safe for jewelry?

Yes, ultrasonic cleaners are safe to use for jewelry, as long as they are used as described by their producers.

Avoid soft gemstones, porous stones, organic materials, treated gems and stones with inclusions. Stones with cracks should never be places in a ultrasonic cleaner.

Don’t put tungsten rings in your ultrasonic machine. Gold, silver and platinum are safe precious metals.

Yet, your device won’t remove tarnish from sterling silver chains and bracelets. It will only wash away dirt particles and oil residues.

There are different types of ultrasonic jewelry cleaner with heaters and ultraviolet lights.

Moreover, there are different preset for different pieces.

Not every material, be it organic or inorganic stone or metal, is safe.

Think your ultrasonic jewelry cleaner like a washing machine.

You do not fill it with every thing you have and start a random program.

You adjust the clothes, choose the temperature and program accordingly and then start.

Otherwise, you risk damaging your clothes beyond repair.

Think of a silk shirt after a 60 degree wash, that’s probably never going to be worn again.

Using an ultrasonic cleaner is not rocket science, yet it needs to be done in the right way.

3. What should you not put in an ultrasonic cleaner?

Soft stones and organic materials should be avoided when using a ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

Stones as lapis lazuli, opal, pearl, turtle shell should not be placed in an ultrasonic cleaner.

For more information, check our post on What not to put in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

4. Is it safe to put a watch in an ultrasonic cleaner?

There are watches, which are safe for ultrasonic cleaning and those which are not.

Consult your seller or watch manual.

However, in any case, you should be sure that your watch is water-proof.

Be aware that after a battery change, that means after it has been opened once,

your watch may not be closed properly.

This may have led the loss of the water-proof property.