Ultrasonic Cleaners: Dos and Don’ts | Omegasonics (2024)

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The Dos The Don’ts FAQs

If we expect our ultrasonic cleaners to perform as designed and last for years to come, there are a number of things you should and shouldn’t do to keep them running efficiently. Just as important is your personal safety as you work around and with your ultrasonic cleaning systems—there are some things you should always take the time to do, and some things you should never do to keep yourself and your employees safe. Here is a list of some of the major dos and don’ts as they relate to the longevity of ultrasonic cleaners.

The Dos

To keep our ultrasonic cleaner performing at top-notch speed, and to keep ourselves safe in the process, we should:

  • Always unplug the unit before draining the solution. Leaving the heating elements energized by accident can cause them to overheat and fail. Also, water and electricity don’t mix, and the combination can be lethal when the human body is involved with excess splashing.
  • Drain the detergent and clean out the tank occasionally. The heavier gunk and dirt that falls off the parts cleaned will settle at the bottom of the tank and may not filter through the filtration system. This debris takes up space in the bath and dampens the ultrasonic waves, which makes cleaning less effective. Use a rag and wipe the tank bottom clean, or rinse it with clean, cool water.
  • Change the filtration system’s filters regularly. Ultrasonic cleaners will remove everything from the part’s surface that shouldn’t be there, and much of that will float in the detergent and be removed by the filtration system. Changing the filters regularly keeps contaminants out of the cleaning detergent, helping the system do its job better and faster.
  • Use water-based detergents. Solvent-based cleaners are generally not designed for use in an ultrasonic cleaner, and may damage the stainless tank surface in some instances. Solvents with low flash points – below 200˚F, are never recommended. Plus solvents are unhealthy for humans.
  • Wipe or spray down parts that have heavy, greasy or loose contamination before placing them in the ultrasonic cleaner if possible. The cleaner will remove all the dirt no matter how badly it is caked on, but as we mentioned above, the dirt that comes off must go somewhere, and that “somewhere” will either be the filters or tank bottom, which adds to our maintenance frequency.
  • De-gas new detergent before you begin cleaning parts. Fresh solution will have some gasses—mostly air—trapped in it, and if these dissolved gasses aren’t removed, it will take the parts longer to get clean while the detergent degasses itself. Degassing is as simple as raising the temperature on the unit to the desired temperature, and operating the cleaner without anything else in it for a short period of time – ten minutes.

The Don’ts

To avoid damaging your cleaners (and your bodies), you should:

  • Never mess with the electronic controls, transformer, or transducers on the unit, or try to do your own repairs. Ultrasonic cleaners operate under high voltage, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can damage the equipment and yourself. On a similar note, don’t spray down the outside of the tank, control box, or electrical box with water or other liquids. If the outside gets dirty, unplug the unit and wipe it down with a clean rag.
  • Never fill the tank of an ultrasonic cleaner with alcohol, gasoline, or any other flammable liquids. They will vaporize, and could cause a fire or explosion, or release harmful gasses into the workspace.
  • Never put any parts of your body into the ultrasonic cleaner while it is operating without proper protection such as thermal gloves and goggles. The detergents can cause mild skin irritation, and the cleaning action can cause discomfort. In addition, the operating temperature of the solution and tank can reach 160 degrees F, which will cause burns.
  • Avoid putting chlorine bleach into the tank. Bleach does not promote good cavitation activity.
  • Keep parts off the bottom of the tank. Setting parts directly on the tank bottom bottom increases the incident of cavitation erosion – pitting of the tank eventually causing the ultrasonic cleaner to leak . Use a basket, tray, or suspension system to hold parts in the unit.

Now that you have a list of basic dos and don’ts for using, maintaining, and working safely around our ultrasonic cleaners, start cleaning! Following these tips will keep you and your equipment around and working efficiently for a long time to come.

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Ultrasonic Cleaners: Dos and Don’ts | Omegasonics (2024)

FAQs

Ultrasonic Cleaners: Dos and Don’ts | Omegasonics? ›

By selecting the right cleaning solution, setting the appropriate frequency, power and distance between transducers, loading the item correctly, controlling temperature, and providing adequate cleaning time, you can achieve the best results in ultrasonic cleaning.

How to get the best results from an ultrasonic cleaner? ›

By selecting the right cleaning solution, setting the appropriate frequency, power and distance between transducers, loading the item correctly, controlling temperature, and providing adequate cleaning time, you can achieve the best results in ultrasonic cleaning.

What cool things can you do with an ultrasonic cleaner? ›

The gentle cleaning action of the ultrasonic waves helps to remove fingerprints, oils, and dirt from the lenses, improving their clarity and optical performance. Ultrasonic cleaning is a popular method for cleaning coins, collectibles, and other small metal objects.

What are the disadvantages of ultrasonic cleaners? ›

Ultrasonic cleaning can cause damage to some items. The high-frequency sound waves can cause vibrations that may dislodge stones, loosen or damage solder, or even cause the item to crack. Therefore, it is essential to use caution when cleaning items with an ultrasonic cleaner.

Can you use Dawn dish soap in ultrasonic jewelry cleaner? ›

Rule of thumb is to not use any liquid that is considered flammable such as alcohol. Another option is using mild dish detergent, this will help break down oils which may make deposits harder to clean with water alone.

Can you use tap water in an ultrasonic cleaner? ›

Using tap water is sufficient. Purified water or distilled water has the same cleaning effect as regular tap water for ultrasonic cleaning. When cleaning silver or copper items where oxidation has darkened the items, special solutions such as SeaClean2, needs to be added to the water to remove the oxidation.

How often should you change the water in an ultrasonic cleaner? ›

Change the solution every day. Sometimes this may need to be done multiple times a day, but at a minimum, it needs to occur every single day. If you open the lid to the ultrasonic bath and the water is murky, or you can't even see the bottom of the tank, it is time to change the water.

What liquid should I use in my ultrasonic cleaner? ›

Deionized Water

While detergents can help in the ultrasonic cleaning process, they are not always necessary. In some cases, deionized water is acceptable and may be advisable. Deionized water is safe to use on almost any material that can be safely submerged in water.

What is the best detergent for ultrasonic cleaners? ›

Generally, all-purpose detergents such as OmegaSupreme and OmegaClean are safe to use with most materials and supply excellent ultrasonic cleaning in most situations.

Should you use hot water in an ultrasonic cleaner? ›

Ultrasonic energy moves best through water at a temperature betwwen 140 and 170 F. In addition, hot water helps dissolve many soils, further enhancing parts cleaning. Do I really need a parts basket? Maybe not.

Can I make my own ultrasonic cleaning solution? ›

All you need is just vinegar, water and dishwashing liquid. Just follow our guide and make yourself a homemade ultrasonic solution, capable of cleaning anything, from jewelry to old coins. So next time you decide to clean something inside an ultrasonic cleaner, try this solution instead of water.

How to clean eyeglasses in ultrasonic cleaner? ›

To clean glasses with an ultrasonic cleaner, fill the device with the recommended amount of cleaning liquid, put your glasses in and start the cleaning cycle. Cleaning in the ultrasonic bath takes a few minutes.

What is the lifespan of an ultrasonic cleaner? ›

If you take care of the machine properly, using best practices to clean the different parts, this piece of equipment can last for decades.

Do ultrasonic cleaners use a lot of electricity? ›

Uses less energy to run

In addition, ultrasonic cleaners are extremely energy efficient as they rely only on electricity rather than powerful industrial power pumps and sometimes even gas generators. In addition, ultrasonic cleaners provide a much faster cleaning which results in less energy and water being used.

What is the best solution to use in an ultrasonic cleaner? ›

We recommend UP 132-B, a mild phosphoric acid solution designed to safely clean at low temperatures. This environmentally-friendly detergent is commonly used on brass instruments but is suitable for many other applications. It's compatible with copper, aluminum, stainless steel, bronze, plastics, glass, and ceramics.

What chemical can you use in a ultrasonic cleaner? ›

Isopropyl Alcohol Ultrasonic Cleaner Solutions

These solvents are popular for cleaning and degreasing a wide range of materials, from printed circuit boards (PCBs) to medical instruments.

Can you put isopropyl alcohol in an ultrasonic cleaner? ›

While traditional ultrasonic cleaning methods use water-based cleaners, there are many cases where the use of a flammable cleaning fluid is required. For example, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and acetone are often desirable as they are effective degreasers and evaporate quickly after cleaning, without leaving a residue.

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