Ultrasonic cleaners used to be reserved for industrial settings and medical offices. But now they are making their way into homes across the country. One of the most advanced cleaners is Ultrasona, a powerful ultrasonic cleaner that became popular on Kickstarter. Using the power of sound waves, these devices clean and disinfect a range of household items faster and more gently than traditional washing. They can also help to reduce water and electricity.
Is ultrasonic cleaning the way of the future? Read on to find out how they work and why you can benefit from having one in your home.
How does ultrasonic cleaning work?
Ultrasonic cleaners use sound waves to eliminate stains, dirt and grime. Ultrasonic cleaning also kills bacteria and other microscopic life.
To use an ultrasonic cleaner, you place it in a basin of water with the objects you want to clean. Then, turn it on and let it work. It does not require the user to do anything, and a full clean usually takes a few minutes.
How does it clean so comprehensively and quickly?
Ultrasonic cleaners clean over cavitations. Cavitation is a scientific term that describes shock waves formed by microscopic bubbles in water. When these shock waves occur in succession, they release a massive amount of energy and disruption. In the case of ultrasonic cleaners, the power of the shock waves picks up stains and kills bacteria.
The cleaner creates these tiny bubbles by causing reverberation in the water. Many cleaners create more than 50,000 reverberations per second. When the bubbles form, they bind to objects in the area, such as the gaps between the threads in clothes, the links of a necklace or in the flowers of a broccoli head. When they burst, dirt, bacteria and pesticides are released or destroyed.
This process happens millions of times per minute on a microscopic level. For this reason, ultrasonic cleaners work quickly and do not risk damaging even the most delicate materials.
The advantages of ultrasonic cleaning
Could you benefit from an ultrasonic cleaner in your home? These cleaners offer features and a level of convenience that washing machines and dishwashers do not. Here are some of the benefits they bring to homes and travelers.
It is versatile
Unlike your dishwasher or washing machine, an ultrasonic cleaner can clean almost anything. As long as you can place an object in a basin of water, it’s fair game.
Ultrasonic cleaners are highly effective for cleaning clothes and dishes. But they can also lift scuffs and stains from jewelry, tools and personal care items, restoring their original shine.
They can disinfect fruits and vegetables without scrubbing to ensure that leafy greens and thin-skinned fruits are free of pesticides. They also make it easy to clean delicate fruits like berries without breaking them.
Ultrasonic cleaners are a practical tool for cleaning the following items:
- shoes
- Children’s toys / baby items
- Delicate fabrics (ties and lingerie)
- watches and glasses
- Brushes and makeup brushes
It is portable
Ultrasonic cleaners look like small batons. They fit in your hand and can be used anywhere with a power source. This makes them ideal for travelers, students, camping enthusiasts and people who have dirty jobs.
If you get a stain on your shirt or tie while you’re on the go, you can simply dip the part of the fabric in a bowl of water and add the ultrasonic cleaning wand. Within a few minutes the stain will disappear.
To make things easier, many cleaners come with a travel-friendly carrying case.
It is gentle
When an ultrasonic cleaner works its magic, it never actually comes into contact with your belongings. In fact, it works more effectively at short range. For this reason, even the most delicate objects can be cleaned without the risk of damage.
The process of cavitations is destructive on a microscopic level, but it is harmless to your valuables. The tiny bubbles can clean silk, lace, delicate jewelry and more with zero scrubbing or agitation.
Ultrasonic devices clean just as effectively in cold water as in hot water, so you can clean delicacies while keeping them at a safe temperature.
Ultrasonic cleaners are a great alternative to hand washing and delicate cycles on the washing machine.
It kills 99.9% of germs
As we said above, ultrasonic power is destructive to microbial life. The shock waves created by cavitations destroy microbes and sterilize everything in their vicinity. This includes bacteria, viruses, mold, mites, fungus and allergens.
This scientific guarantee of cleanliness is especially reassuring when washing:
- produce
- Baby bottles and pacifiers
- Animal toys
- Silver and cookware
- retainers and toothbrushes
Washing machines, in contrast, are not very effective at eliminating bacteria and germs. A study of the Journal of Infection has shown that even freshly washed clothes can be home to dangerous bacteria and fecal matter.
It’s fast
Ultrasonic cleaners may not be able to wash the same volume of objects as a washing machine or dishwasher, but they work much faster.
Many items that are easily soiled can be washed in less than a minute. And other larger items with lots of stains and splits (like work boots) can take 5-7 minutes.
Even large items like blankets and jackets can be washed quite quickly, but you have to change the position of the object every few minutes to make sure that the reverberations can reach every surface.
It is quiet
It may seem strange that a device that cleans with sound waves is virtually silent, but it is true. The reverberations generate less than 20 dB of sound, which is roughly the frequency of a whisper. If you place the object in the water, the sound continues and becomes almost silent.
It’s easy
You don’t have to get your hands dirty when you use an ultrasonic cleaner. There is no scrubbing, scrubbing or scrubbing required even for heavily soiled objects.
Many cleaners work on a timer, so you can turn it off and do other tasks. The cleaner will then turn itself off.
Ultrasonic cleaners make it very easy to clean between tight gaps and in cracks that are impossible to reach. They also quickly clean stains that require multiple washes and chemical agents to remove.
It is environmentally friendly
Ultrasonic cleaners use much less water and electricity than standard washing machines. To be more specific, handheld ultrasound devices use about 40x less water and 15x less electricity. Not only does this reduce your carbon footprint, but it also makes a noticeable difference in your annual utility costs.
A useful device for home
Do you need an ultrasonic cleaner? It is not for us to say. But we believe that these devices provide extra comfort at home and on the road.
It may not make sense to clean all your clothes or dishes with an ultrasonic cleaner. Traditional washing is much easier for large jobs. But when it comes to fighting stubborn stains and killing germs, ultrasonic devices are much more effective. Plus, they are by far the best for washing other hard-to-clean items like tools, jewelry, produce, and toys.
If you are interested in an ultrasound device for your home, you have several options, but you can expect to spend around $200-$300.
One of the most advanced ultrasonic cleaners is called Ultrasona. It has smart controls, 50k reverberations per second, and a highly compact design. It’s currently in production and will start shipping in June 2020, so you can’t get your hands on one just yet. But the good news is that backers on Kickstarter can get an Ultrasona for just $95, which is worth the wait. Find out more at kickstarter.com.
We’ll be sure to keep you up to date with all the advances in ultrasonic cleaning technology, so check back soon, and thanks for reading.