When it comes to keeping gems and precious metals bright and sparkly, there’s nothing like the convenience of getting a professional-quality clean right at home. One way to do this is with an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner—a small machine that gently cleans valuables by producing high-frequency sound waves. In addition to their efficiency, many people opt for ultrasonic cleaners because they’re a gentle and chemical-free way to make your items sparkle (they don’t remove tarnish, but you can polish your pieces after cleaning for best results). The Magnasonic Professional Ultrasonic Jewelry and Eyeglass Cleaner is an affordable option for those looking to keep their silver, gold, and gemstones clean. It also works well on eyeglasses, coins, watches, utensils, and other personal items. We tested the highly rated machine and took notes on its performance, design, and features. Read our findings below.
Performance: Simple and effective
The Magnasonic electric cleaner is super easy to use with just three buttons—on, off, and set—and a removable basket that safely holds your valuables. There are five time settings ranging from 90 seconds to 480 seconds (eight minutes), which can be adjusted depending on the amount of residue on your items. To get going, you simply have to place your items in the basket, and fill the machine with enough water to cover them (a minimum of one cup). For deeper cleaning, you can add a squirt of dish soap or liquid jewelry detergent. (Magnasonic recommends a ratio of 10 parts water to one part soap.) You’ll then select your desired time and hit the set button. When the machine is on, you’ll hear the vibrating sound waves which are generated at 42,000 Hz. The Magnasonic will automatically stop at the end of the cycle, and while there’s no beep or sound indicator, you can audibly hear when it’s complete. So you’re not disappointed when you remove your items from the cleaner, let’s clarify one thing upfront: Ultrasonic cleaners won’t remove tarnish from metal. What they can do, however, is shake loose dirt, grime, and oil from surfaces and crevices. You’ll know the Magnasonic has done its job as you’ll see particles and cloudiness in the water following a round of cleaning. If you want your metal objects to truly shine, follow an ultrasonic cleaning with some polish. We tried this on a silver necklace that was tarnished almost brown, and when we were done, the chain and charms had a mirror-like sheen. While tarnished metal items will require some additional work, cloudy gemstones should only take a round or two in the Magnasonic to shine like new. We tested the machine with our diamond engagement ring and pavé band and they came out glowing. We found the same results with silver, gold, and even cubic zirconia jewelry. Next, we tried out a few pairs of glasses. The Magnasonic cleaned smudges and specks off our everyday lenses with no issue, so we pulled out a 12-year-old pair of Ray-Bans to see how they’d fare. It took two 480-second rounds and a bit of dish soap, but the Magnasonic effectively cleaned out the caked-on gunk stuck between the joints of our sunglasses. While this handy machine can clean all your jewelry (and coins, and flatware, and even dentures, razors, and toothbrushes), the brand advises users to allow 10 minutes in between rounds to preserve the life of the device. With that said, you can easily clean multiple items at once.
Design: Compact and thoughtfully constructed
The Magnasonic is conveniently sized at 8.2 x 5.8 x 5.4 inches. It’s lightweight, as well, at just 2.2 pounds. The pod-like machine has a matte plastic exterior with a slight sheen; while it looks attractive, it can easily scratch—especially if tossed in a closet or drawer for storage. When in use, the top lid opens and closes smoothly with a hinge and has a see-through panel. A 4.5-foot-long cord also gives users flexibility in where they place the machine.
Price: An affordable way to care for your valuables
There are lots of ultrasonic cleaners to choose from, most ranging from $30 to $70 (and some deluxe versions that go way beyond). Ringing in around $40, the Magnasonic is middle-of-the-road in terms of price, and its solid performance is worth the cost.
Competition: Lots of similar products
DK Sonic Digital Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner: Similar in price and features is the DK Sonic, which is close to the same size and also generates an ultrasonic frequency of 42,000 Hz. Like the Magnasonic, this device has a see-through window in the lid and a stainless steel interior tank with a removable basket. It also includes a watch holder. The DK Sonic offers multiple time settings like its competitor, as well. The major difference here is aesthetic; this machine is white with gray, black, and green accents. InvisiClean Professional Ultrasonic Cleaner Machine: The $70 InvisiClean is substantially more expensive than the Magnasonic, but it comes with a few extra features. The machine boasts two ultrasonic transducers for extra cleaning power, plus it’s designed for continuous use. This machine is also bigger than the Magnasonic (the tank holds 800 ml as opposed to 600 ml), so more items can be cleaned at once. Other convenient features include a removable lid and detachable power cord for easy filling and emptying of the interior tank. It also comes with basket and watch holder accessories, and like the Magnasonic, it has five different timed cycle settings. You’ll certainly get your money’s worth with the Magnasonic. This is especially true if you’re a fine jewelry collector, have glasses or sunglasses that constantly need cleaning, or use another lifestyle item (like dentures) that needs regular sanitation.
