Everything But The Weed

Approved by:
Linda Maze, a Wedding photography Gainesville FL in Gainesville Florida

Ultrasonic cleaners are really an excellent choice for cleaning various items. They are non-messy, convenient to use and thoroughly clean any surface almost every time. That said, an ultrasonic cleaner is a fairly sophisticated piece of equipment and requires periodic maintenance to keep it working at optimum level. 

For me, the most appealing feature of an ultrasonic cleaner is its simplicity. Apart from the cleaning solution which is a separate, disposable item anyway, the equipment basically comprises a steel tank with a lid. All the electronics (transducer) required to create cavitation from ultrasonic waves are embedded in the tank itself and do not have to be removed during maintenance.

The initial step is obviously to empty out the ultrasonic cleaning solution and use a soft clean cloth to wipe the inside of the tank. As a safety precaution, unplug the device first. Extra care should be exercised while wiping the bottom of the tank, since the transducer is embedded there. Above all, make sure that the wiping cloth has not picked up any abrasive material that could scratch the tank surface. You may set aside soft wiping cloths and use them exclusively for cleaner maintenance. Naturally the cloth should be properly washed and dried after each use. Wash them separately and not just dump them in the washing machine together with everyday clothes.

Since you will only have to put a liquid cleaning solution in the tank (remember that the items to be cleaned should always be laid in a separate tray that can be suspended from the tank walls), it is unlikely that its inner walls and bottom will get damaged or worn out. Nonetheless, you should check for dents, pinholes and any exposed wires that can be shorted. If you do notice these, the best thing to do is to take the equipment back to the manufacturer or dealer. These irregularities may affect the cleaner’s performance if neglected.

Rusting is not a problem generally, since most reputed manufacturers supply stainless steel tanks. However, if you use the cleaner to refurbish ferrous parts, or use tap water as the cleaning solution, a rust film may eventually form as a deposit on the tank surfaces. You can avoid this by regularly cleaning the tank surface with an appropriate cleaning solution ( elma clean 60 or 215). This will get rid of deposits before they can cause stains on the tank surface. Alternatively, you can operate the ultrasonic cleaner in a heating mode after filling the tank with water and the cleaning solution.

Some objects need the ultrasonic baths to be carried out at high temperature for effective cleaning. This can cause a mineral deposit – also known as furring – to form around the heating elements. You can minimize this by turning on the ultrasound as the bath begins to heat, which will guarantee that heat is evenly distributed throughout the bath.  

Finally, remember that cavitation – which is the cleaning engine of an ultrasonic cleaner – can occur around the transducers. These act as microscopic drills that can eventually cause leaks, but only after prolonged use. Regular maintenance, however, will eliminate this danger.