What is an ultrasonic cleaner?
Ultrasonic cleaners use high frequency sound waves to create tiny bubbles in a liquid solution. These bubbles form and collapse rapidly in a process known as cavitation. The energy produced during cavitation sends powerful micro-shock waves that clean remove dirt, debris and contaminants from the objects immersed in the liquid. They’re mostly commonly used to clean jewellery, but you can actually clean almost anything with them.
What factors should I consider when shopping for an ultrasonic cleaner?
Some of the key factors to consider when shopping for an ultrasonic cleaner are frequency/power, tank capacity, build quality, and additional features like digital displays and timers. Capacity is likely the most important factor to consider here, as the size of the tank will determine the size of the objects you can clean. If you’re cleaning smaller objects like jewellery, an 800ml tank capacity is ideal, but if you’re going to clean larger objects you’re going to want something that’s a bit bigger.
Best Options At A Glance
Product Summaries
LifeBasis CDS-100 Ultrasonic Cleaner
- Brand - LifeBasis
- Dimensions - 20.4 x 14 x 13 cm
- Weight - 980 g
- Capacity - 0.6L
- Special Feature - Cooling Fan
Firstly we have the LifeBasis CDS-100 Ultrasonic Cleaner. It’s currently selling for £46/$59 on Amazon.
This ultrasonic cleaner from LifeBasis is great if you’re looking for something that’s both affordable and effective. Despite it’s reasonable price, it has an impressive sound frequency of 42000Hz, outperforming the more commonly used 40000Hz in terms of cleaning power.
It also has an LED digital display that allows you to select between 5 different timing options. These options include 90s, 180s, 300s, 480s and 600s, giving you a range of options from quick touch-up to deep clean.
One of the more unique features of the CDS-100 is the included cooling fan. This fan keeps the temperature of the cleaner low during operation, resulting in a longer lifespan when compared to many of it’s closest competitors.
The CDS-100 is perfect if you’re looking for a reasonably priced ultrasonic jewellery cleaner that will get the job done.
Buy the LifeBasis CDS-100 Ultrasonic Cleaner from Amazon for only £46/$59:
PELCAS Ultrasonic Cleaner
- Brand - PELCAS
- Dimensions - 25.6 x 17.4 x 17 cm
- Weight - 1.74 g
- Capacity - 0.8L
- Special Feature - 12 Month Warranty
Next we have the PELCAS Ultrasonic Cleaner. It’s currently selling for £60/$76 on Amazon.
This well-rounded cleaner from PELCAS shares many of the features present in the CDS-100, but it has a larger capacity and better overall build quality.
It has a 42000Hz sound frequency and an 800ml tank capacity, giving you both the power and space to clean a wide range of objects. Similarly to the CDS-100, it also has an LED display that allows you to select between 5 different timer settings (90s, 180s, 300s, 480s, and 600s).
This cleaner’s detachable basket makes it easy to disassemble and clean after frequent use. The tank itself is made from SUS304 stainless steel which is both extremely durable and resistant to corrosion. It also comes with a 12 month warranty as standard, so you’re covered if anything goes wrong after purchase.
If you’re looking for a well-made ultrasonic cleaner with some useful extras, this model from PELCAS is a great choice.
Buy the PELCAS Ultrasonic Cleaner on Amazon for only £60/$76:
SWAREY Professional Ultrasonic Cleaner
- Brand - SWAREY
- Dimensions - 30.1 x 23.4 x 21.8 cm
- Weight - 2.9 kg
- Capacity- 2.5L
- Special Feature - Semiwave Surface Cleaning
Another efficient ultrasonic cleaner is the SWAREY Professional Ultrasonic Cleaner. It’s currently selling for £90/$117 on Amazon.
This cleaner is a big step up in terms of capacity. The 2.5 litre tank provides plenty of space for cleaning multiple items at once without negatively affecting cleaning.
The cleaning process is also highly adjustable. Temperature can be adjusted from 0-80℃, timing can be adjusted from 0-99 minutes, and there’s dedicated modes for different types of cleaning. These modes include Degas for removing ultrasonic fatigue, Sweep (Semiwave 28KHz) for surfacing cleaning, and Turbo (Fullwave 40KHz) for blind holes cleaning.
It has some other useful features as well. There are LED displays for both timing and temperature so you can monitor cleaning progress. The noise cancellation guarantees quiet cleaning, even if you’re using the device for extended periods of time. There is also a vent to dissipate heat and extend the lifespan of the cleaner.
This ultrasonic jewellery cleaner is highly adjustable and it has an impressive capacity. It’s a great choice for the price.
Buy the SWAREY Professional Ultrasonic Cleaner from Amazon for only £90/$117:
CREWORKS 3L Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner
- Brand - CREWORKS
- Dimensions - 26.5 x 16.5 x 22.5 cm
- Weight - 3.8 kg
- Capacity- 3L
- Special Feature - 300W Heater
Next we have the CREWORKS 3L Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner. It’s currently selling for £160/$204 on Amazon.
This cleaner’s large 3 litre tank capacity makes it well suited for commercial cleaning jobs. Similarly to the InvisiClean cleaner, it utilises a dual transducer system that allows for thoroughly effective cleaning.
The digital display allows you to set the timer function anywhere between 1 and 99 minutes. This detailed control is a step up from many of it’s competitors that use a limited a number of pre-set options.
One of the more unique features is the 300W heater. This heater helps to improve the efficiency of the cavitation process, in turn speeding up the overall cleaning process. You can also use the Degas mode to remove the gas bubbles from the solution as well as any porous objects, again improving cavitation.
If you’re looking for a high capacity ultrasonic cleaner with a range of helpful features, this clean from CREWORKS might be the one for you.
Buy the CREWORKS 3L Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner from Amazon for only £160/$204:
DK SONIC Professional Ultrasonic Cleaner
- Brand - DK SONIC
- Dimensions - 35.6 x 32.5 x 32.5 cm
- Weight - 9.9 kg
- Capacity- 15L
- Special Feature - Cleaning Modes
Finally we have the DK SONIC Professional Ultrasonic Cleaner. It’s currently selling for £300/$382 on Amazon.
This high capacity cleaner from DK SONIC is ideal if you’re looking for a commercial system that can clean many items simultaneously. The massive 15 litre capacity allows you to clean almost anything, removing the size limitations present in some of the most popular models.
It has a 20 to 80°C heating range for degreasing and dewaxing. This gives you loads of versatility for different cleaning requirements, especially when paired with the included 1 to 99 minute timer. For most cleaning applications, the best heating range is likely between 40 and 60°C.
This cleaner also allows the user to select between three modes: FULLWAVE, SEMIWAVE, and Degas mode. SEMIWAVE is made for the general rinsing surfaces, FULLWAVE is for intense cleaning of blind holes and crevices, and Degas mode is used for removing ultrasonic fatigue. These optional control modes are features that are missing from the majority of cleaners on the market today.
This cleaner from DK SONIC offers the user ultra high tank capacity, versatile heating options, and detailed control over cleaning modes. It’s difficult to find better for commercial ultrasonic cleaning.
Buy the DK SONIC Professional Ultrasonic Cleaner from Amazon for only £300/$382:
FAQs
If you’re looking for an easy to way to clean small objects with awkward crevices, it’s difficult to beat an ultrasonic cleaner.
Their use of high frequency sound waves allows ultrasonic cleaners to remove dirt and grime from crevices that would be difficult to reach with traditional cleaning methods. Not only are they effective, they’re also near automatic. Most ultrasonic cleaners have digital timer functions, meaning you can set them to clean automatically while you deal with other tasks. They’re a great asset if you regularly clean small objects like jewellery or glasses.
There’s loads of great options on the market, but the PELCAS 800ml Ultrasonic Cleaner is one of our overall favourites. It has a 42Khz sound frequency, 800ml capacity, and dual transducers technology – this gives you loads of cleaning power for both DIY and commercial jobs.
If you’re looking for something that’s a bit more affordable, the LifeBasis CDS-100 Ultrasonic Cleaner is excellent value for money.
There’s loads of objects that can be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner – the main limiting factor is the size of the cleaning tank. Some of the most common uses include cleaning jewellery, small electrical parts, glasses, collectible figurines and dental instruments.
One of the few categories of items that can’t be cleaned are organic gemstones like pearl or amber, as these can be dissolved by heat and vibration in some cases.
There’s a range of liquids that can be used in ultrasonic cleaners, but deionised water is likely the best choice. Most water contains mineral salts and other impurities that may leave stains on the objects that you’re trying to clean. The use of deionised water avoids this issue, as it doesn’t contain the mineral salts found in tap water.
Thanks for reading our article. If you’re shopping for cleaning tools, you may want to take a look at our article covering the Best Air Compressor For Cleaning Your PC.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help.
