Ultrasonic cleaning is a process of cleaning through high-frequency sound waves. It is a very efficient form of cleaning that rinses away the residue and loosened particulate matter. You first submerge your crystals or healing stones in the tank with liquid. The high-frequency sound waves hit the liquid and form a special scrubbing-like action that cleans the surface of the crystals with efficacy.
The frequency in the ultrasonic cleansing causes the cavitations (a bubble form in liquid solution). It implodes with such force on the surface of crystals that all the contaminants adhering to surfaces are dislodged. So in other words, one can say ultrasonic cleansing is the implosion of tiny bubbles that scrub surfaces clean.
There are many variables in this process that can affect the cleaning, such as the cleaning cycle or power of the machine. Luckily, we have some ultrasonic cleaning machines today that can be customized to suit the specific needs. For instance, you can opt for ‘precision cleaning’ in them to clean and restore delicate crystals. It is available in the tabletop ultrasonic cleaning model tanks; it works well for crystals. There is no need to buy industrial cleaning systems.
Benefits
Here are some top-notch benefits of an ultrasonic cleaning system.
- It removes contaminants and cleans the crystals a lot faster.
- It can be tailored to fit specific cleaning needs.
- The crystals are cleaned without any abrasion or harsh scrubbing.
- This method creates long term cost efficiency.
- It is automated; only one person is required to operate it.
- It works according to the professional industrial cleaning needs.
- Multiple crystals can be cleaned in one step.
- The ultrasonic cleaning cleans hard-to-reach areas too.
- It is effective for an almost endless variety of contaminants.
- This method or machine counts on low power consumption.
Despite all its benefits, ultrasonic cleaning has its limitations also. It is pertinent to check what kind of scrubbing action it is producing. If it is aggressive, it can be harmful to delicate crystals. Crystals like quartz or materials like silicon can erode if they face prolonging exposure to its cavitations. You have to minimize the ultrasonic energy to clean them and be careful.
Similarly, the temperature of the liquid is an important factor in the effectiveness of cleaning. It shouldn’t exceed the crystals’ temperature parameters. Otherwise, it can damage them.
Crystal Jewelry & Ultrasonic Cleaning
There is nothing like a gleam of crystal jewelry that makes our future bright, happy, and rich. We always want it to look as dazzling as it did when it was new.
For restoring the natural beauty of your old crystals and gemstone jewelry, the machine-generated high-frequency waves are the best. They dislodge the stubborn dirt and debris within a few minutes and clean the crystals and stones better than traditional ways.
However, it has some dos and don’ts that you need to consider.
1) Get a full kit.
Make sure you have the full kit. This is essential for keeping your crystals safe. A full ultrasonic cleansing system kit includes a basket, watch or bracelet holder, and instruction manual. It is also imperative to know whether the system comes with its concentrated cleaning solution or not. Since some systems recommend their own cleaning solutions for better results.
2) Don’t try to clean damaged crystals
Don’t try to clean damaged crystals inside them; crystals that have been filled in the surface breaks. This is very common in diamonds as manufacturers often fill their damaged parts with a lead glass-like substance. When you put a damaged crystal inside the ultrasonic cleaning system, the wave frequencies remove their filled materials like wax, resin, or oil. Therefore, use this machine only for removing the contaminants, and also ensure that the crystals you are putting in are solid and have a smooth surface.
3) Avoid cleaning any porous, coated, or loose materials.
Porous crystals and materials should never be cleaned in this system. The chemical solution and the heat can dent them. There are just a few porous crystals that are used by healing experts, such as pearl, opal, emerald, and amber. Clean these crystals with traditional methods. For instance, use a dry soft cloth only to remove the dirt. Even soaking them in warm water for a few minutes can damage their porous material.
Likewise, if your crystals have been coated to make them shine in jewelry, don’t put them in the machine either. The coat of oil, wax, or plastic can be destroyed and you have to contact the jewelry store again to have that coating. Mostly, the coating treatment is used on porous gems to protect them.
Before cleaning the jewelry like a ring or bracelet, check the crystal is securely set in the mounting. If it is loose, it can lose the grip. There is a lot of quick, fast shaking inside the machine that can break delicate pieces.
4) Avoid cleaning any soft stones or treated gems.
Soft stones and treated gems shouldn’t be cleaned too. Though it is fine to clean them occasionally, in low settings, it is still better to use traditional cleaning methods with them. Both types usually have organic material, which is not durable and doesn’t perform well in the ultrasonic cleaning machine either. The high-frequency waves can eat them away or destroy their treatment of color. Before buying a crystal, try to know about its material and how it is treated by the manufacturers. This gives you a pretty good idea regarding what’s the best way to clean it.
Why bother with Ultrasonic Cleansing?
All these warnings may make you wonder how ultrasonic cleaning is better.
The truth is this machine is ideal for those who have a lot of crystals and want to clean them automatically without any extra effort. If you are active and always on the go, your bracelet or necklace or other jewelry is bound to get dirty and stained from time to time. You will want your crystals clear and shining so that they can be a part of your style as well.
Besides, when you have this machine, it compels you to know about the crystals more. You learn about their material, hardness level, treatment, and durability, which is beneficial in its own way and makes you an expert on crystal healing topics.
Conclusion
Today, there is more emphasis on ultrasonic crystal cleaning, because it gives astounding, safe, and predictable results once you know how to operate the machine. Several tests and visual observations suggest that it increases the life of crystals also and keep them in good condition.
The ultrasonic cleaning system looks expensive, but it pays for itself in the long run. Also, as we have mentioned before, it is particularly for those who love healing crystals and precious gemstones and use them on a day-to-day basis.