Ultrasonic cleaners are very advanced cleaning equipment, with strong clean power. The first sonic cleaning equipment had appeared in the 1950s. Ultrasonic cleaning has been one of the best choices to clean the complex items in many areas until now. After decades of development, ultrasonic cleaners are now becoming a common household cleaning machine.

But do you know how to choose a useful ultrasonic cleaner? And how to know which one will have cleaning effects?

The Technology of Ultrasonic Cleaning

At first, we know that the cleaning effect of ultrasound comes from ultrasonic cavitation. While ultrasound of special frequency is traveling in the liquid, the liquid will be rippled and get millions of microbubbles due to sound pressure. This process is called ultrasonic cavitation. The formation, expansion, and rupture of microbubbles generate strong power. The impact force will take away stains from the complex surfaces of items. So that we need two conditions to get a good cleaning effect. One is the special frequency ultrasounds, and the other one is to make it work in water.

Frequency between 20kHz and 50kHz is the best condition for ultrasonic cavitation. The cleaning effects will be weak while the frequency is out of the range.

False Ultrasonic Cleaner and No-effect Ultrasonic Cleaner

In the market, 2 types of ultrasonic cleaners are without real ultrasonic cleaning effect.

One is the device using micro eccentric motors, instead of ultrasonic transducer. This kind of device will make water shock, just as a real ultrasonic cleaner does. But the motors' shake frequency is much lower than ultrasound, and not strong enough to get the ultrasonic cavitation. So, the devices are false ultrasonic cleaners and can't help users get the expected cleaning results. However, they also are named "ultrasonic cleaner" by the sellers.

Another one is the ultrasound device with ultrasound transducers, but they only can produce soundwaves with frequency lower than 20kHz or higher than 50kHz. These ultrasound transducers are with low ultrasonic cavitation efficiency, also can't achieve ideal cleaning result. Therefore, they are often used in other areas but not cleaning. For example, the ultrasonic transduces with frequency between 1.7MHz and 2.4Mhz are usually used in humidification equipment.

Ideal Ultrasonic Cleaners

2 characteristics make an ideal ultrasonic cleaning machine.

1. Stainless steel sink.

2. Ultrasonic transducers, with a disc shape or a horn shape(Image).

In these transducers, the disc shape one will produce a 42kHz/48kHz ultrasound wave and the horn shape one will produce a 28kHz/40kHz ultrasound wave. This ultrasound will get ultrasonic cavitation in the water quickly and clean items in 5 mins thoroughly. They are the best choice for sonic cleaning equipment now.

Image: Disc Shape Ultrasonic Transducer & Horn Shape Ultrasonic Transducer

An Easy Testing Method

There is an easy method to test the cleaning effect when choose a small household ultrasonic cleaner. Add water in the sink and run the cleaner, then put your finger in the water. If there is a slight needle prickling feeling, that means the machine will make a good cleaning effect. If user can only feel smooth water wave, then an ideal cleaning result might not be expected from the machine.

Using this method, you can easily choose an ideal small home ultrasonic cleaner, including ultrasonic denture cleaner, ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, ultrasonic eyeglass cleaner, etc.