In earlier times, a man’s pocket watch was as much a sign of his status as his clothes, house or car. Today, brands like Breitling, Omega and TAG Heuer carry as much weight among connoisseurs of luxury timepieces as Bentley, Maybach and Maserati do among those who treasure high-end automobiles. Both items represent a combination of lofty status and top-notch engineering. Fortunately for lovers of name-brand watches, they are much easier to clean and maintain than their automotive counterparts, thanks in large part to small, portable ultrasonic cleaners.

Throughout the course of human history, civilizations have cherished gold, silver and jewels as both objects of value and as decoration. Down through the centuries, people have also had to deal with keeping these precious metals and stones free of dirt, grime and other particles that can dim their luster.

Most people associate ultrasonic cleaners with state-of-the-art science laboratories or top-notch medical facilities. These machines are highly effective at cleaning the precision instruments required to carry out precision tasks in these high-tech settings. Ultrasonic cleaners can also be found in a setting that requires nearly the same amount of precision and scrutiny: the beauty salon. The stylists and shapers at these salons understand the value of keeping their instruments in their best condition.

The cleaning process is improved when appropriate cleaning solutions are employed to enhance cavitation by reducing the surface tension of plain water. Aqueous cleaning solutions do this by incorporating wetting agents, also called surfactants. The other important task of cleaning solutions is to disrupt the bond between the surface and the dirt. While water can dissolve many ionic contaminants, with any contamination that involves a fatty substance like oil or grease, water is ineffective as a solvent or cleaning agent. With the right cleaning solution, oils, fat and grease can become soluble in water.