Warning: Jewelry You Should NOT Put In an Ultrasonic Cleaner

How Ultrasonic Cleaners Clean Your Jewelry

Ultrasonic cleaners remove dirt from jewelry by using ultrasound: The pieces are put in a cleaning liquid, and after the machine is turned on, it emits ultrasonic waves that create vibrations through the liquid, knocking dirt particles off the jewelry.

This cleaning process is pretty neat and efficient, but it is also the reason why your jewelry might come out of the cleaner with loosened stones.

Diamonds in an Ultrasonic Cleaner: Be Careful

Although diamonds are very durable stones, sometimes it may be risky to clean them in an ultrasonic cleaner. Diamonds that have significant inclusions are at risk of damage since the ultrasound vibrations can make these internal flaws worse.

Ultrasonic cleaner

The rule of thumb is that if a diamond has big and very visible inclusions, there is a higher risk of internal damage when using an ultrasonic cleaner, and that risk depends on the nature of the inclusion. Most diamonds sold as jewelry are not that badly included so as to be at risk, but you may want to err on the side of caution if the stone has very visible inclusions, and you may prefer to opt for professional cleaning in that case.

You might think that clarity-enhanced diamonds shouldn’t be at risk because you can’t see any internal flaws, but actually the opposite is true.

These stones’ clarity has been enhanced through fracture filling or laser drilling, and the process makes the diamond more likely to crack when cleaned with an ultrasonic device, so proceed carefully or take your stone to an experienced jeweler for cleaning.

Some colored diamonds also should not be put in ultrasonic cleaners. Many diamonds of this type have been treated to enhance their color, and depending on the treatment, ultrasonic cleaning can undo this effect to an extent, making these stones’ hues less vivid. So if a diamond’s color has been enhanced, don’t risk it unless you’re certain that the treatment effect will hold.

Here’s what the Gemological Institute of America has to say on ultrasonic cleaning and diamonds:

Proceed cautiously if the diamond contains feathers or is included, and avoid ultrasonics if the diamond has been treated by fracture filling.

Can I Clean Other Gemstones?

Generally, the more brittle the stone, the more likely it is to be damaged in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Emerald, onyx, opal, tanzanite, lapis lazuli and turquoise are all examples of stones that shouldn’t be cleaned with ultrasonic devices. These gemstones can be damaged in the cleaner by the heat or the vibrations.

In addition, many of them have been treated using heat and other methods to enhance their color, making them even more susceptible to damage.

Gemstones with cracks that have been filled with oil or other materials as well as stones whose surface has been coated with a polymer or other substances should also not be cleaned this way.

In general, most gemstones are not suitable for ultrasonic cleaning, and you shouldn’t risk putting them in the cleaner unless you are certain that they are durable enough and untreated (for example, untreated ruby). This is also true for most synthetic or fake gemstones.

See here a gem cleaning kit that can be used on most gemstones. Don’t forget to read the label and instructions in order to make sure that the cleaner is safe to use with the jewelry you have.

Can You Clean Pearls in Ultrasonic Cleaners?

Pearls are very soft and ultrasonic cleaning may partly dissolve them. Whatever the pearl, never put it into an ultrasonic cleaner.

Only use warm, soapy water to clean pearls, and while we’re at it, never use alcohol or other chemicals on them.

What About Other Organic Gems?

If you’re wondering whether amber or coral can be put into an ultrasonic cleaner, the answer is “no.”

Just like most other gemstones, these gems can be easily damaged by ultrasonic cleaning.

Can I Put Metal In?

Generally, yes. However, a notable exception is tungsten. This metal should not be put in ultrasonic cleaners because the cleaning process can damage it.

Whatever metals your jewelry is composed of, make sure to ask your jeweler whether it is safe to clean it with an ultrasonic cleaner as you never know what metals or alloys make up your jewelry.

What Can I Clean Using Ultrasonic Cleaners?

Metals such as gold and platinum are safe to clean with ultrasonic devices.

Hard natural gemstones such as rubies can also be put in an ultrasonic cleaner provided that they have few and small inclusions and have not been treated with heat or chemicals, or don’t have any coating.

Even then, do not clean in such cleaners jewelry in which the stones touch (like in a channel setting, for example); otherwise, they might chip when subjected to vibrations.

Anyway, be sure to ask the jeweler at the time you purchase any piece of jewelry whether it can be cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner. There might be unsuitable alloys or gems, or some gemstones may have been treated, becoming more vulnerable in the process.

You can also consult your local jeweler regarding any pieces that you already own but are unsure about. If in doubt, let a professional handle the cleaning.

How Ultrasonic Cleaners Can Loosen Your Gemstones

Stones in settings that are old and worn are easier to loosen.

Since ultrasonic cleaning works through sound waves, they can cause a stone to vibrate in its mounting.

One cleaning session can be long enough to expose your jewelry to vibrations that could loosen its settings.

Sometimes, you may notice that some of the stones have come off while in the cleaner. Very often, you may not find out that your setting is loose until later, when your stone falls off.

When Are Your Stones More Likely to Loosen?

Usually, stones in settings that are old and worn are easier to loosen. If your prongs are worn thin or are bent, their grip is more likely to be weakened further by the cleaner.

Pay special attention to jewelry that is very dirty as sometimes dirt particles hide damaged mountings and help weak settings keep the gemstones in place.

When the dirt is cleaned off by the ultrasound, however, you may find that your stones are no longer held tight.

How to Use an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner Effectively

What Cleaning Solution Should Be Used?

One option you have for the cleaning solution is a jewelry cleaner that you can buy at the store.

The alternative is to prepare a cleaning liquid yourself.

If you choose to make a homemade cleaning solution, just fill the tank of your cleaner with water, and add a tablespoon of ammonia.

Then add some dishwashing liquid and you’re done – it’s that simple.

You might want to turn the machine on and let it run without any items for 5-10 minutes so that the solution gets mixed well.

Remember to Heat It Up

One of the common mistakes people make when using an ultrasonic cleaner is to put cold water in the tank. For the cleaning solution to work best, it needs to be hot.

There are ultrasonic cleaners that have a built-in heater to ensure that the solution is heated up. However, these models can be much more expensive than the regular ones.

All you need to do is just heat the water up before you put it in the tank (do not bring the water to a boil, though). Then you can mix in the ammonia and the dishwashing liquid.

The Cleaning Process

After you have filled the tank with hot water and poured the cleaning liquid, you can put your jewelry inside. Don’t put in too many pieces at once, though, so as not to scratch your jewelry.

Turn the device on and let it run for as long as needed until you jewelry is clean. (Depending on how dirty the items are, this time usually varies from 1 to 20 minutes.)

After the cleaning is done, switch the cleaner off and leave your jewelry inside for another 5-10 minutes so that the dirt particles that were knocked off your pieces by the sound waves can fall to the bottom of the tank.

After you take your jewelry out, you can clean it briefly with a soft brush to make sure that any residual dirt is removed, especially from the mountings of your rings.

Rinse the items to wash off any remaining detergent, and dry them with a soft cloth.

What You Should Do After Ultrasonic Cleaning

To make sure your gemstones are safe after they have been cleaned, you should always check your jewelry after it is taken out of the cleaner.

If you’ve had your pieces cleaned by a jeweler at the shop, always ask the staff to inspect the pieces AFTER they are cleaned. Often, your rings and other jewelry won’t be checked thoroughly unless you request that explicitly.

If any of the pieces have become loose, it’s best to have them fixed and tightened while at the store.

If you are doing the cleaning at home, check all settings yourself. Look for stones that move in the mounting, even if only slightly; you never know when a gemstone may come off.

Check if any of the prongs are weakened or bent, and pay special attention to the ones that look thin and worn. Even if the setting doesn’t have prongs, it can still be loosened by the ultrasound.

If you spot any problems, you should have them corrected as soon as possible. Have any loose mountings fixed immediately, especially if you see worn or broken parts. You don’t want to risk losing your expensive gemstones.

How Often Should I Use an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

The frequency of using an ultrasonic cleaner will depend on how quickly your jewelry gets dirty.

In general, you can clean your jewelry with ultrasound every couple of weeks.

If you wear you pieces every day and they accumulate dirt more quickly, you can clean them every week.

As long as your jewelry is made of materials that can take ultrasound, cleaning your items more often will not hurt them.

Next: Browse this selection of ultrasonic cleaners and check out their prices, and don’t forget to read our article on using an ultrasonic cleaner.