12 Types Of Ultrasonic Tools That Will Have Your Home Clean In No Time

Are you looking to work smarter instead of harder when it comes to your usual house cleaning routine? Different technologies and methods promise better results for less effort but some are gimmicks. Others, like ultrasonic cleaning technology, have been incorporated into different cleaning tools with at least some degree of success. 

The basic premise of ultrasonic cleaning is to use high-pitched waves of sound to produce results. In the case of most ultrasonic cleaning tools, the waves agitate water and cause dirt and impurities to release from the surface being washed. That's just one example of how an ultrasonic cleaner works, but the specific application can vary depending on what type of device is being discussed. 

Many times, an ultrasonic cleaning method skips chemicals or lengthy cleaning times associated with conventional cleaning methods. This technology has been applied to everything from repelling bugs to vacuuming carpets or humidifying the air inside of the house. With that in mind, you might wonder if ultrasonic cleaning can be a shortcut to more efficient and effective cleaning. Here's what to know about the most popular ultrasonic cleaning tools for the home.

An ultrasonic humidifier adds moisture to the air. It does so by dispersing a cool mist through a top-mounted nozzle. To create this fine, moist mist, an ultrasonic humidifier has a water tank with ceramic plates that generate high-frequency vibrations inside the body of the humidifier. In turn, those vibrations agitate the water and create the vapor that humidifies the air. Because of that, a humidifier is recommended to help with dry winter air in your home.

Compared to an evaporative humidifier that uses a fan to move air through a filter and wick system, ultrasonic humidifiers are much quieter. In addition, ultrasonic humidifiers tend to be smaller because the machine doesn't need to house a filter and wick. Without the filter, ultrasonic humidifiers will disperse any minerals present in the water used to fill the humidifier tank. If you use tap water, you might notice a white or gray dust that settles on the surrounding floors or furniture and scale can accumulate inside the humidifier. If you're looking to use this ultrasonic tool to raise humidity levels without creating a mess, then it's recommended that you use distilled water.

An ultrasonic oil diffuser can be used to disperse essential oils into the air. Similar to an ultrasonic humidifier, these small appliances use sound vibrations to disperse small droplets of moisture into the air. In the case of an oil diffuser, the distributed oil in the water adds the aroma and any purification properties of the oil to the air. You can add any essential oil you would like to the water tank, and then reap the benefits wherever you place the diffuser. For instance, an essential oil diffuser can make your entryway more inviting.

The biggest advantage to using an ultrasonic diffuser is that there's no risk of heat degrading the quality of the essential oils. There are several other potential benefits from this type of oil diffuser, including a pleasant fragrance for your room and air purification — based on the oils you choose to diffuse. When used in dry weather, you may notice increased moisture levels from the mist the diffuser releases.

One strategy for keeping your home pest-free is an ultrasonic bug repellent. These simple devices plug into an electrical outlet (or use battery power) and emit high-frequency sounds. The ultrasonic sounds claim to deter and confuse insects. At the same time, the noise won't even be noticeable to you, since the sounds are out of the range that can be heard by humans.

How well an ultrasonic repellent works may depend on the pests you're aiming to deter. Kansas State University researcher Subramanyam Bhadriraju has conducted several studies examining the impact of ultrasonic sound on various insects. This 2007 study published in Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata suggests that it can be ineffective against mosquitoes and cockroaches, for instance, highlighting potential disadvantages. The advantage of this type of tool is that it doesn't utilize any chemicals or leave behind residue, which can relieve worries if you have pets or children in the home. It also doesn't require active application. Instead, the device works consistently and silently once you plug it in.

Like an ultrasonic bug repellent, these devices use high-frequency sounds that are a nuisance to rodents. As a result, rodents are deterred from entering your home. However, it should be noted that the noise of an ultrasonic rodent repeller is more of an annoyance than an actual threat to rodents. This means that, in some cases, rodents will ignore the high-frequency sounds.

Ultrasonic rodent repellers don't rely on poison or traps. This means you don't have the clean-up associated with dead rodents. Instead, these devices look to prevent rodents from entering but their limited effectiveness might not make them a solution for all situations. However, if you want an affordable, chemical-free way to get rid of rats humanely, this device may be worth trying in your home.

An ultrasonic dishwasher, also sometimes known as a sonic dishwasher, is a small device that mounts on the side of your kitchen sink. It uses a vibrating plate to clean dirty dishes or utensils in your kitchen sink. If you're wondering how it can replace the tedious task of scrubbing dishes, here's the key: ultrasonic waves. Instead of using a sponge and soap to remove food debris, ultrasonic dishwashers provide a hands-free alternative. The device produces enough pressure by means of ultrasonic agitation to break down molecules of dirt, grease, and oil that are stuck to your plates, glasses and silverware.

Compared to handwashing, an ultrasonic dishwasher is a far less labor-intensive way to scrub dishes. These devices are also much more compact than some countertop dishwashers you've considered, freeing up more room on the kitchen counter and saving you storage space. Usually, a sonic dishwasher sticks to the inside of your kitchen sink, but isn't permanently attached. Since these devices are portable, you can easily move or store it as needed.

An ultrasonic robot mop uses a vibrating plate to add intensity to the floor cleaning routine. Also called sonic mopping, it's usually a feature found on robot vacuums with a mop function. In the case of some robot vacuum mops, the mop pad vibrates at a speed up to 4,000 times a minute for a deeper clean on hard surface floors. It claims to be especially helpful for stains.

Compared to standard robot vacuums with a fixed mop plate, the ultrasonic versions have more scrubbing power. Instead of applying water and utilizing a drag-and-clean method, the ultrasonic vacuum mops incorporate agitation. The fast motion of the vacuum's mop pad mimics scrubbing — but doesn't require any elbow grease. Keep in mind that ultrasonic robot mops might not be able to clean tight or inaccessible spaces, like corners or behind doors, so you'll still likely need to mop the floors yourself on occasion. When used regularly, however, these devices can help you keep your floors clean for longer.

Tiny specks of dirt plus particles of dust and dander can easily become lodged in carpet fibers, making your carpets look dingy and expose you to allergens. Vacuuming your rugs or carpet is an excellent way to extract this debris, and an ultrasonic vacuum puts some extra oomph behind your cleaning session. This type of vacuum has a bar that vibrates at a rapid rate. The sonic waves that are produced lift dirt from fibers so that the small particles can then be captured by the brush roll and suction of the vacuum cleaner.

Ultrasonic vacuum cleaners claim to offer a deep clean without excessive agitation, which can damage carpet fibers over time. It should be noted that ultrasonic vacuums are not largely common, especially in the case of large, upright models. Smaller handheld versions utilize similar technology and are ideal for cleaning furniture or mattresses.

An ultrasonic jewelry cleaner is a fast and effective tool to clean small accessories like rings, bracelets, and earrings at home. You fill a small tank with water and then use the controls on the unit to activate a cleaning session. The ultrasonic cleaner works by agitating the water with ultrasonic waves. These waves gently but effectively remove impurities from jewelry.

Jewelry often has many small nooks and crannies that are hard to clean by hand, like settings that hold diamonds or other stones or a very fine chain. The water pressure created by an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner can get into these small spaces, saving you a lot of time and effort. The cleaning method is considered gentle enough for fine jewelry. That being said, you should always check the device's instructions for any applicable cautions you should take with your jewelry.

Makeup brushes can accumulate not just makeup but oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells picked up from your skin. Over time, a dirty makeup brush can cause problems like acne or inflammation. An ultrasonic makeup brush cleaner remedies the dirty brush dilemma by giving your brushes a quick bath using sonic waves. Like an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, you'll fill a small tank with water. Some machines have slots where you can insert the brushes or you may simply place them in the water tank. After selecting cycle settings, the machine uses a vibrating plate to send sonic waves through the water. This action loosens makeup and other impurities clinging to brush bristles.

The advantage to using an ultrasonic makeup brush cleaner is that it's largely hands-off. Compared to scrubbing the bristles of your brushes, an ultrasonic cleaner is faster and less tedious. That's important when you consider that experts say you should clean your makeup brushes regularly — every 7 to 10 days is recommended.

It's important to regularly clean dental appliances, like retainers or mouth guards, since they can harbor bacteria. Aside from being stinky or becoming discolored, dirty dental appliances can cause infection. With that in mind, it's recommended that you clean your retainer once each week. To do so using an ultrasonic dental cleaner, you'll fill a tank with water, and place your dental appliance inside. Like other ultrasonic cleaning tools, the machine then uses sonic waves to create agitation in the water. These devices could also be used for toothbrushes. Some ultrasonic dental cleaners also include a UV light that provides the added perk of sanitization.

Other options for cleaning dental appliances involve soaking them in a solution using hydrogen peroxide or cleaning solutions or tablets. It's recommended to soak them for up to 20 minutes. On the other hand, using an ultrasonic cleaner takes about five minutes, so you'll save time with the device.

For releasing wrinkles from your clothes, you might consider an ultrasonic iron. While there aren't as many options for this type of ultrasonic appliance, the ones that do exist are compact and cordless. An ultrasonic iron works like a small iron but incorporates a water tank that produces ultrasonic steam. As you iron, activating the steam option delivers a superfine mist to your garment, which may release wrinkles more effectively and claims to be gentle for your clothes.

With just a few options to pick from and limited reviews, it's hard to say for sure how much more effective an ultrasonic iron is when compared to a regular iron. The fact that these garment care tools are small and compact is one reason that you might choose them over conventional iron options. They're sized right for travel and don't need to be plugged in during use. Instead, you'll regularly charge the ultrasonic iron using a USB cable.

Utilizing the concept of ultrasonic cleaning for your clothes, a sonic mini washing machine can be used in a sink, bathtub, or other watertight container. There's a small controller with a digital display attached to a wand. The wand end of this cleaning tool emits ultrasonic sound waves into the water at a rate of 50,000 vibrations per second. This produces many small bubbles that make contact with your laundry items. As the bubbles implode, they attract the dirt or other impurities clinging to the surface of your clothes, towels, etc. This leaves your clothes cleaner and the water dirtier.

This is another ultrasonic cleaning tool with limited availability and real-world use cases. However, the manufacturer claims that it's versatile enough to clean laundry, household items, and even fruits or veggies. It's recommended that you use different devices for cleaning household items versus food items.