It is rather amusing that the more popular ultrasonic cleaning becomes, the more fake news that gets put out regarding the process. However, this is probably true in most industries, as sectors that have dominated the niche for decades get nervous because of the “new kid” on the block. After scanning several cleaning blogs, we have decided to debunk some of the top myths being pushed regarding ultrasonic cleaning.
The Myths…
#1 – You cannot clean aluminum in an ultrasonic cleaner.
This is just flat-out false. Just about every metal can be cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner. The key is to make sure you have the proper settings and cleaning solution to ensure safe and effective cleaning in regard to the integrity of the metal. This was probably started by someone who used the wrong products when cleaning aluminum or an angry competitor, but it is simply not true.
#2 – Ultrasonic cleaning will damage solder joints in circuit boards.
There is a lot of money in cleaning circuit boards, mostly due to the delicate nature of the item, hence this particular myth. There is a misconception that the ultrasonic waves shake things clean, which, if you read our blog regularly, you know is not how the process works. Ultrasonic cleaners create microscopic bubbles that implode on the item, making this one of the most effective ways to clean delicate PCBs.
#3 – Ultrasonic Cleaners need to run long cleaning cycles to clean better.
This one makes us laugh because the complete opposite is true. Some of our cleaning cycles last only a few minutes, cleaning an item in under 10 minutes. Compare that to hand cleaning or spray washers, and the cleaning time is only a tiny portion of using other methods. When purchasing an Omegasonics cleaner, our team works with you to establish the exact settings you need to get your items clean the first time, every time.
#4 – Ultrasonic cleaners do not work.
I am going to guess that this was started by someone who either used the wrong settings or the wrong cleaning agent for a specific job. If you want to see an ultrasonic cleaner in action to prove this myth wrong, just check out our YouTube channel.
#5 – You have to clean parts before putting them into an ultrasonic cleaner.
So, this is a very interesting one in that the person that initially started this myth must lack some common sense. In general, we recommend giving them a quick wipe for excessively dirty or oily parts, but that is not needed. We recommend this to extend the life of your cleaning agent. For instance, if you are cleaning auto parts that are literally dripping in oil or grease, we would recommend giving them a quick wipe simply not to have all that extra contaminant in the tank. The ultrasonic cleaner will still clean the part properly, but your cleaning agent may need to be replaced sooner because of the excess grime you are introducing.
Have any other concerns about using an ultrasonic cleaner? Give our team a call at 888-989-5560.
