Considerations In Buying The Best Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
The ‘best’ ultrasonic jewelry cleaner is somewhat of a misnomer that can be dangerous when considering your jewelry’s cleaning needs. Before choosing an ultrasonic cleaner you first need to assess the type of jewelry you have. Some kinds of gemstones, as explained below, should never be put in an ultrasonic cleaner. They are fragile enough for even the gentle action of an ultrasonic cleaner. Other types may require specific cleaning solutions that do not harm or discolor the metallic finish of your jewelry.
That said, it is nevertheless true that the easiest way to clean your jewelry is by using an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. All pieces of jewelry like earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc result to a sparkling clean appearance after the process. It helps to get rid of all the dirt and grime quickly and easily within a span of a few minutes. This is the most efficient method in cleaning gemstones, diamond, platinum and gold (14K, 18K or 24K) compared to the less efficient methods of using swabs and soft cloths.
Ultrasonic cleaners have a cleaning tank and a motor. When the jewelry is immersed in the cleaning liquid solution, the motor or electric generator creates a vacuum cavity in the cleaning liquid through alternate waves of compression and decompression. This process is known as cavitation and results in effective cleaning. The frequency is governed by the ultrasonic generator, and can be set to a level appropriate for cleaning jewelry. Sophisticated models inhibit the formation of dead zones in the cleaning tank, where no cleaning action takes place. This can be necessary if your jewelry has intricate designs that will not be easy to penetrate by normal ultrasonic cleaning. The ‘scrubbing bubbles’ produced by cavitation reach every crevice and crack on the surface of the jewelry. They remove all the stains and lift off all the dirt.
The jewelry, or any object for that matter, must never be placed directly in the bottom of the tank. Place them in a basket that has ring holders or jewelry racks. The basket can then be suspended in the cleaning solution to facilitate a safe and hassle-free cleaning process. Then the jewelry must be thoroughly rinsed with water after the cleaning process to wash off any residue.
It is advisable to switch on the unit a few minutes before the cleaning process, so the ultrasonic bath attains the set temperature. Auto degassing is another feature available in advanced models that helps eradicate gas bubbles trapped in the liquid.
The cleaner is not meant to be used for fragile stones like amber, emeralds, pearls and opals. Sapphire, amethyst, rubies, aquamarine, topaz and silver and almost all semi-precious stones jewelry can be cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner.
The cleaning agent for each piece of jewelry varies with the nature of the stone and the body that holds the stone in place or the metal setting. When cleaning metals of a high gloss finish, take extra care that you don’t use a cleaning agent that can mar or discolor the surface. Consult your jeweler or the vendor of ultrasonic unit when you’re in doubt. Each cleaning solution has a different chemical formula intended for specific types of surfaces. In general though soap-based detergents and ammonia are nonabrasive and non-reactive to most gemstones and precious metals. Also verify your gemstones reaction to high temperatures as the cleaning solution will heat up during the cavitation process .
This article was written by Dr. Bob Sandor, a Director at Tovatech, a leading North American supplier of ultrasonic cleaners. When not busy running his company, he explores his fascination with the many aspects of various scientific & industrial devices. For more information on this article visit the Tovatech site from any of the above links.