How to Make Fluid for an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner

Make your jewelry sparkle with an ultrasonic cleaner.

Over time, jewelry can lose its luster by becoming soiled with skin oils, dirt and soap residue. An effective method of keeping your rings, bracelets and necklaces clean and shiny is to use an ultrasonic cleaner. Ultrasonic cleaners send sound waves through the cleaning solution bath, causing microscopic bubbles to gently clean your jewelry. The cleaning solution is little more than a mixture of common household chemicals. In minutes you can easily make your own.

Things You'll Need

• Nonmetallic bowl
• Nonmetallic spoon
• 1 cup hot water (hot bath temp)
• 1 teaspoon dish liquid detergent
• 1/2 teaspoon ammonia

Instructions

1. 

   Ceramic bowl (nonmetallic) is used to combine jewelry cleaner ingredients.

   Assemble supplies. You must exercise caution in handling ammonia. Even at concentrations used for household cleaners, ammonia fumes can damage respiratory membranes and burn the skin and eyes.

2. 

   Clean stones shine brilliantly.

   Combine hot water, ammonia and dish washing detergent in bowl. Mix thoroughly with a nonmetallic spoon.

3. Pour the cleaning solution into the ultrasonic bath tank. Place jewelry into tank and turn the unit on, per manufacturer's directions. After cleaning cycle is complete, remove jewelry, rinse with warm water and dry with a lint-free cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use this cleaning solution to clean costume jewelry or soft stones. Very soft stones include opal, pearls, fluorite, amber, sphene, apatite, lapis lazuli, and turquoise.

• Mild abrasives like baking soda or toothpaste may be used to clean silver, but never gold.

• Never use an oxidizing compound like bleach on your jewelry.

References

• Wisegeek: What is an Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner?
• Gem Select: Gem hardness chart