| What cleaning solution should I use? The answer to | | | | enhance washing and rinsing, can be obtained for |
| this question depends basically on two things: what | | | | each of these cleaning tasks. Additionally, |
| part needs to be cleaned and what is the main | | | | commercially available specialty cleaning solutions |
| contaminant? Put simply, if you want to clean the | | | | might be the best solution for industrial cleaning |
| diamond in an engagement ring you will use a | | | | processes that require more cleaning power. |
| different cleaner than if you want to remove grease | | | | Cleaning solutions to avoid: Flammable substances like |
| from a gear. | | | | gasoline, ether, and alcohol should never be used in |
| Indeed, there are many different options depending | | | | an ultrasonic cleaner as the cavitation releases a lot |
| on the parts to be cleaned and the main | | | | of energy and high temperatures at the microscopic |
| contaminations. Not all of these involve expensive | | | | site of the imploding bubble. In a flammable liquid this |
| industrial ultrasonic cleaning solutions. As an example, | | | | could lead to an explosion. |
| removing calcium deposits (water stains, scaling) from | | | | Strong acids, bleach and bleach containing detergents |
| chrome-plated metals, stainless steel or other | | | | like many machine dishwashing detergents can |
| corrosion resistant materials can be accomplished by | | | | damage not only the stainless steel tank of the |
| using a weak acid like diluted distilled white vinegar or | | | | ultrasonic cleaner, but also sensitive surfaces of the |
| citric acid in conjunction with the power of an | | | | parts being cleaned. If it is known that the parts will |
| ultrasonic cleaner. But because weak acids can | | | | be able to withstand the treatment, however, bleach |
| damage certain surfaces, it is best to use a little | | | | or acids can be used with the part submerged in a |
| scrap piece to try it out first or ask the | | | | beaker containing the acid or bleach. The beaker is |
| manufacturer of the part whether weak acids are | | | | then put into the ultrasonic tank filled with water. |
| safe to use with it. | | | | Cavitation will occur outside and inside of the beaker, |
| For many light greasy contaminations such as the dirt | | | | but the harmful chemical will not be in direct contact |
| that accumulates on eyeglasses, jewelry, and SCUBA | | | | with the tank of the ultrasonic cleaning equipment. |
| gear, a dilution of a hand dishwashing liquid will often | | | | When should I change cleaning solutions? If different |
| do the trick. Because machine dishwashing cleaners | | | | cleaning processes require different cleaning agents, |
| often contain bleach they can be quite corrosive and | | | | the tank must be drained, cleaned and refilled with |
| could harm many surfaces especially because the | | | | the proper solution. This does not mean discarding |
| corrosiveness is enhanced by cavitation. Further | | | | the solution not being used. It can be stored and |
| damage could result to an ultrasonic cleaner's stainless | | | | re-used several times until it is visibly dirty. |
| steel tank. Because of the potential for damage | | | | If the cleaning capacity has decreased noticeably, it |
| machine dish washing detergents are not | | | | might be due to the cleaning solution being spent, but |
| recommended for use in an ultrasound bath. | | | | there are also other reasons why this can happen. |
| For trickier dirt like the grimy mixture of grease, | | | | One of the most common is an incorrect solution for |
| algae, fish scales, etc. on fishing reels or dried paint | | | | the cleaning being done. For example, weak acids |
| on paint and air brushes, a stronger solution of an | | | | work great for calcium deposits, but they will not |
| all-purpose household cleaner might be the right | | | | clean grease well. Another reason for poor cleaning |
| cleaning agent. Keep in mind that, fairly strong | | | | results can be traced to new cleaning solutions that |
| solutions (dilutions of less than 1:10) of many | | | | have not been degassed. Gasses that are dissolved in |
| household cleaners can discolor certain metals, so | | | | the solution inhibit cavitation. Because cavitation will |
| caution is warranted. | | | | degas the solution with time, running the unit for 15 |
| Commercially available specialty cleaning solutions that | | | | minutes before placing objects to be cleaned in the |
| are optimized for solubility, concentration, reactivity | | | | ultrasonic bath will fix this problem. |
| to temperature and materials, and for the ability to | | | | |