Best Ultrasonic Cleaners | Buyer’s Guide

What is the best ultrasonic cleaner? There are two types of these devices: an industrial machine and a portable ultrasonic cleaner. Industrial-grade units are very effective, heavy-duty, and equipped with a high-wattage generator. As a reference, the generator is the most important part of an ultrasonic cleaner because it provides power to the machine. They also feature robust tanks made from welded stainless steel. Portable ultrasonic cleaners are smaller in size, compact, and easily transportable. However, they come with less powerful generators and are used to clean only small items like toys, jewelry, and food.

Best Ultrasonic Cleaners Compared

It is important that the device is large enough to hold the item you want to clean. Basically, the frequency of about 45 kHz is enough, however, some items may require as much as 130 kHz.

The development of ultrasonic machines and cleaning dates back 70 years when a laboratory at the Radio Corporation of America discovered the cleaning action of ultrasonic energy. The technicians were using freon to cool radio components when they observed a wave action around a crystal operating at 300 kHz. The concept was not actively applied as a cleaning mechanism at the time until the 1950s when ultrasonic cleaning machines were developed. The pioneers began by designing machines with a frequency of 18-40 kHz, and later in the 1980s, commercial systems were invented that operated at 25-40 kHz. Modern technologies have spawned the invention of systems with higher frequencies (up to 45 kHz) that are portable and designed for both domestic and industrial use. Here, you’ll find five different models of the best ultrasonic cleaners from $17 up to $130.