7 Best Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaners for Sparkling Accessories, Tested and Reviewed
Updated: Jul. 14, 2024
The best ultrasonic jewelry cleaner will make your most treasured pieces sparkle like new.
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When’s the last time you cleaned your jewelry? If you hesitated for even a moment or two, it’s been too long. Your best gold jewelry and accessories have become a bit dingy and dirty despite utilizing some of your best jewelry storage ideas. Soap, lotion, oils, dead skin and other kinds of grime build up on your favorite accessories. That’s where the best ultrasonic jewelry cleaners come in. They’re a smart way to clean your jewelry.
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are nifty devices that clean objects through a cavitation process. High-frequency sound waves are emitted and create millions of microscopic bubbles that pop almost as quickly as they form. This creates a multitude of tiny vacuums that pull dirt and grim off objects and into the tiny spaces created by the bubbles. Some of the best ultrasonic jewelry cleaners use heaters to increase water temperature. Water molecules move faster when heated, creating spaces for unwanted materials to better dissolve off of your items and into the water.
Any fashionista with gold jewelry, platinum jewelry and precious metals will find that ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are a must-have device. However, it’s important to note that many of these machines won’t clean silver jewelry effectively if tarnished. Loose or porous stones, such as emerald, tanzanite, topaz and turquoise, can be damaged by ultrasonic cleaners, so be sure to confirm what your jewelry is made of and go from there. And don’t forget that the best ultrasonic jewelry cleaners come in handy for other grimy accessories, such as glasses, dentures and coins.
Best overall ultrasonic jewelry cleaner
Magnasonic Professional Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
Pros:
- Efficient and powerful clean
- 42,000 Hz of sonic waves
- Maximum line displayed on basket/tank
- Well built and durable
- Easy to operate
Cons:
- No designated spot to empty tank
The Magnasonic professional ultrasonic jewelry cleaner is an impressive piece of equipment with 42,000 hertz (Hz) of sonic waves. It’s the ideal choice to clean your eyeglasses, rings, coins, tools, dentures and other hygiene items, as it was designed to handle them all. This device provides professional-grade cleaning with only the use of water, so you don’t need to use concentrated solutions if you don’t want to (though you might for deeper cleanings).
I put the the Magnasonic to the test and can confirm that it’s very easy to operate. Plus, no assembly is required, so I was able to use it straight out of the box. I tested its cleaning prowess with some tarnished coins including a few pennies. These machines are designed to remove tarnish, so I wasn’t expecting that to happen here. (In fact, it’s a similar type of oxidized tarnish that causes certain jewelry to turn your skin green.) It did, however, restore luster to my coins. I was really impressed with how well it cleaned my small afro pick (hair lift comb), too, as it easily removed the caked-on oils and creams that were stuck on the comb.
Best budget ultrasonic jewelry cleaner
Ukoke Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine
Pros:
- Won't break the bank
- Smart touch digital control panel
- 40,000 Hz of sonic waves
- Degas setting
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Less durable than others
People who want to utilize the best ultrasonic jewelry cleaner but are working with a budget should look to Ukoke’s ultrasonic cleaning machine. Don’t be fooled by the price—during my testing, this machine proved to be incredible. It has a few notable features, such as a smart touch digital control panel, a degassing setting to prevent oxidation and five time presets ranging from 90 to 480 seconds (eight minutes). This little device even pumps out 40,000 Hz of frequencies for effective cleaning.
The smart touch digital control panel was a nice change of pace from the manual buttons of other machines. The cord and device are one combined unit, so it’s ready to use out of the box. I cleaned several objects, including some tops for my colognes. These tops are black made of plastic and I placed them in the device with a small amount of dish soap. I ran the machine for 480 seconds, and the tops of my cologne looked impeccably glossy after drying them off. Shoppers who aren’t looking to spend a whole lot can still reap the benefits that an ultrasonic machine offers.
Best deep-clean ultrasonic jewelry cleaner
Vevor Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
Pros:
- Adjustable heat and time settings
- 40,000 Hz of sonic waves
- Metal construction
- Anti-skid rubber feet
- Available in different sizes
Cons:
- Heavier than other machines
- Not aesthetically pleasing
The Vevor ultrasonic jewelry cleaner is not your average machine. In fact, the Vevor brand itself is known for manufacturing tough tools. While this jewelry cleaner might look more like lab equipment than it does a household small appliance, this commercial-grade product—with its metal exterior and tough build—may outlast your best sustainable jewelry.
This Vevor pick has more buttons and screens than a standard ultrasonic cleaner, so its interface is daunting at first glance. However, I easily became familiar with the device in a few short minutes. Pro tip: Read the manual.
What I really like about the Vevor is that both the heat and time are adjustable, with heat as an optional setting. It also boasts the highest amount of allotted processing time with a whopping 30 minutes. This combination of settings certainly provides the deepest clean of all the ultrasonic cleaner options, as noted by using it on my stainless steel watch. Over time it has accumulated oils, lotions and skin cells from frequent use as my daily driver. I set the timer for five minutes with a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and it removed the grime to the point where dark gray water was dripping off my watch. I’m very satisfied with how well it cleaned!
Best ultrasonic jewelry cleaner kit
Simple Shine Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Kit
Pros:
- Bundled with ring holder, watch holder, basket and cleaning solution
- 49,000 Hz of sonic waves
- Degas setting
- Five cycle settings
- Automatic shutoff
Cons:
- Pricey
The Simple Shine ultrasonic jewelry cleaner kit makes sure you have everything you need to get super-clean jewelry. It includes the machine itself, along with a watch holder, basket and a concentrated cleaning solution. A ring holder is also included, so even your best rings can get cleaned. The solution is ammonia free and safe to use on gold, platinum, sterling silver, stainless steel and pearls. The Simple Shine also has a degassing feature to help protect your precious items from oxidation.
As the name implies, everything about this kit made cleaning my items, well, simple. I used a few squirts of the concentrate solution and the ring holder to clean several of my tungsten rings. Also, after changing the water, adding fresh solution and degassing the water, I put in one of my Sacagawea dollar coins. I took the dollar coin out after eight minutes of processing time, and it was more vibrant and had considerably less grime. I then applied concentrate directly to the coin, like I would with diamonds using a Diamond Dazzle Stik, and then all of the grime was removed. I love that I didn’t have to shop separately for a cleaning solution.
Best large-capacity ultrasonic jewelry cleaner
iSonic Commercial Ultrasonic Cleaner
Pros:
- 2.5-liter capacity
- Optional heat setting
- 35,000 Hz of sonic waves
- Designated groove for emptying tank
- Available in different sizes
Cons:
- Pricey
iSonic’s commercial ultrasonic cleaner gives much credence to the saying, “size matters.” This large and in-charge ultrasonic cleaner offers one of the biggest capacities among household ultrasonic cleaners at 2.5 liters. Objects can get a better cleaning through this device’s internal heater, which is preset to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. This machine offers five preset times, from 90 seconds to 480 seconds. The heater, cooling fan to prevent overheating and size make up its hefty price tag, however, this machine is well worth the investment.
This device was one of my favorites to use because of its large capacity. I effectively cleaned a wide array of items, such as afro picks, combs, brushes, toothbrushes and other items I’m probably not cleaning enough. The iSonic’s heater maintained a steady temperature, which helped give my items a deeper clean, and the clear top let me watch the ultrasonic waves in action. I further tested the machine on some steel butter knives with minor soap and water stains and they came out looking pristine. I learned that this ultrasonic cleaner is a viable alternative for when my more expensive silverware needs cleaning.
Best ultrasonic jewelry cleaner with special features
InvisiClean Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
Pros:
- Dual transducers
- Power switch and detachable cord
- Integrated cooling fan
- Five preset timer settings
- 42,000 Hz of sonic waves
Cons:
- Pricey
What’s great about the InvisiClean ultrasonic jewelry cleaner is that it offers a variety of features not found in most other devices. A minor but useful feature is the “on” and “off” switch, which is convenient for maintaining the machine’s health instead of pulling out the plug to turn off the device. Additionally, it’s the only machine in its class that has two transducers for increased cleaning power and even ultrasonic energy distribution. The light-emitting diode (LED) display also shows the time presets in both minutes and seconds. And I appreciate the designated groove that shows where to pour the water out.
One of the notable objects that I cleaned with the InvisiClean cleaner was pair of women’s sunglasses. I popped the sunglasses into the machine and used the 600-second preset. Honestly, I was surprised with how clean the glasses were after taking them out and drying them off. There was only a small amount of dust on them to begin with, yet the plastic frames and lens were now vibrant and reflective. I didn’t use any solvents or solutions out of caution, but I probably could’ve used a mix of water and vinegar to clean them.
Most versatile ultrasonic jewelry cleaner
LifeBasis Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
Pros:
- Cleans jewelry, glasses, dentures and more
- Up to 10 minutes of cleaning time
- 42,000 Hz of sonic waves
- Built-in cooling fan
- Affordable
Cons:
- Tank has shorter width
With added features comes versatility, and versatile is the best way to describe the LifeBasis ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. This little powerhouse is a worthy option for those who don’t have the budget for higher-end cleaners. The touch buttons and digital display are simple and effortless to use, plus its long and narrow tank allows longer objects to fit comfortably. Its 35-watt transducer provides a powerful, yet safe, cleaning for your jewelry, and the designated groove to empty the tank is appreciated.
The LifeBasis cleaner may have a small and narrow basket, but it makes up for it with its length. I cleaned the head of my detangle brush by processing the front and back of my brush two separate times for three minutes. I was pleased to see my brush clear of dandruff and grime. I also cleaned two of my favorite sunglasses at the same time by adding in some dish detergent, and they came out sparkling.
What to look for when buying an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner
The most important factors to look for when buying the best ultrasonic jewelry cleaner are tank capacity, available heating element and ultrasonic frequency. These factors will dictate how well your objects will be cleaned. People looking to clean small jewelry, like rings and earrings, can purchase just about any ultrasonic device. However, those looking to clean eyeglasses, toothbrushes and other larger items should look for machines with larger tanks. Partial cleaning of larger objects can be done with smaller machines, but the process will take longer.
Lower frequencies produce more aggressive waveforms, which may affect the longevity of what you’re cleaning. Higher frequencies tend to have a better balance of power and energy patterns for a more delicate, yet effective, clean. Heating elements aren’t required because their stainless steel tanks insolate and hold heat. However, devices with heaters generally provide a deeper clean than those without. Machine parts that get dirty or oily will better benefit from ultrasonic cleaners with a heater.
Why you should trust us
I am an experienced retail sales consultant who finds the best products for those I work with. Customers and clients from stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Best Buy have made amazing and beneficial personalized choices when shopping with me. I attribute the same client-first service I have in consulting with the readers of my commerce stories. Additionally, I have a history of cleaning as a custodian and I’m into fashion and style. I have an adept understanding of what it takes to clean different objects and materials, including jewelry.
How we found the best ultrasonic jewelry cleaners
Reader’s Digest is full of shopping and product experts. The team started by researching a dozen ultrasonic cleaners while noting aesthetics, price and functionality. They combed through reviews to see what real people had to say about the devices. This process ensured that we only considered products that were worth your time and money. From there, I spent weeks testing seven devices on a variety of different items, from watches to sunglasses, to identify the best ultrasonic jewelry cleaners on the market today.
FAQ
Are ultrasonic jewelry cleaners safe?
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are safe overall. The sonic waves they produce are focused inside the compartment and aren’t harmful to humans. They’re designed to clean certain metals, jewels and plastics safely. Those using concentrate solutions to clean should be mindful of what type of materials benefit from their use. Some ultrasonic jewelry cleaners have heaters that may cause the container to get uncomfortably and even dangerously hot. Fortunately, these cleaners have baskets with handles that fold out for safe removal. Keep in mind that there are certain materials, such as porous precious metals, that shouldn’t placed in these devices.
What liquid do you use in an ultrasonic cleaner for jewelry?
Water is generally the liquid used in an ultrasonic cleaner for jewelry. However, concentrated cleaning solutions and solvents can be added to the water to better clean specific items. The tank should never be filled completely with alcohol or flammable liquids.
Some notable solvents to use include boric acid for airbrush guns, oxalic or citric acid for cold and copper, silver cleaner for silver products and detergent for glasses and jewelry.
How long should you leave jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner?
Jewelry should be left in an ultrasonic cleaner for as long as the device is in use. It’s not recommended to leave jewelry submerged in the container after the cleaning process is finished, as this may damage the jewelry. Promptly remove and wipe off the jewelry after using an ultrasonic cleaner.
How often should you use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner?
This depends on how often the object is used and when it was last cleaned. Two weeks is a good amount of time to wait before cleaning the same object. However, objects worn or used every day that come into contact with oils, lotions and dirt, such as wedding rings, necklaces and toothbrushes, should be cleaned several times a week.
Originally Published: January 12, 2023
