Which liquid to use in an ultrasonic cleaner
Water with a little cleaning agent, and never anything flammable. Here is why, and what to avoid.
Water alone is not enough
Plain water has no cleaning properties of its own, says the lab supplier Cole-Parmer. A cleaning agent contains surfactants. They lower the surface tension of the water, which helps the cleaning bubbles form, according to the maker Elma.
What to use
Use a water-based liquid. For most things at home that means tap water with a little mild dish soap: 57 of our 177 item answers say so in their tips.
Ready-made ultrasonic liquids are made for specific jobs. Pick one that is made for the material you are cleaning, and follow its label.
Tap water or deionized water?
Tap water. Deionized water forms bubbles less actively than soapy tap water, so it can clean worse, according to Branson's manual.
Never use
- Petrol, alcohol, acetone or any other flammable liquid. The cleaning action makes heat by itself, and that can start a fire or an explosion.
- Chlorine bleach. It can damage the stainless steel tank.
- Strong acids such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, even diluted. They attack the tank.
When to change it
Change the liquid when it looks dirty or when the cleaning gets clearly weaker. A fresh batch for every run is usually not needed. Rinse the tank between jewelry and aligners, and degas new liquid before you clean with it.
Your manual comes first
Some manuals forbid specific liquids. Pick your cleaner, and each answer shows the warnings from its manual.
Sources
- Cole-Parmer – questions about ultrasonic cleaners
- Elma – how ultrasonic cleaning works
- Bransonic manual 1800–8800
- UltraOkay database of 180 cleaners (figures on this page are counted from it)