How does an ultrasonic washing machine work and whether it is worth buying

Ultrasonic stylish machines resemble ironing for drying shoes. Devices are widely advertised, but there are no unambiguous reviews about their effectiveness. purity.bigbadmole.com/en/ magazine decided to sort out the issue.

How does it work

The gadget consists of two nodes:

• supply wire with block and plug,
• a plastic case enclosing an ultrasonic emitter. In some models, the emitter is two.

The frequency at which the machine operates is 22-30 kHz. The machine creates a lot of bubbles that collapse and hit the laundry with a lot of microscopic hydroblows (this is called cavitation). In theory, sound waves should knock dirt and germs out of the tissue.

Can ultrasound remove anything at all?

Ultrasound is used in cosmetology, and is even better known in dentistry: they break down tartar and bacterial plaque, at the same time clean the deposits with directed air with water and soda.

So yes, cavitation is a good destructive force. However, the dirt is not plaque, cavities do not form in it. By the way, in dentistry, in order to increase the effectiveness of the ultrasound wave, they beat her not directly in the tooth, but through a special gel.

Is radiation dangerous?
Studies have not shown any harm to health, although tooth enamel ultrasonic cleaning thinns a little.

How to wash

After exploring the forums, the author of purity.bigbadmole.com/en/ magazine compiled instructions for the highest quality washing:

1. Prepare a metal basin with a lid.
2. Pour hot water, not cooler than 50 degrees, into the container.
3. Pour enough (as for regular washing) the amount of powder and mix with tongs.
4. Load things so that they do not cramp together, but float freely in the solution.
5. Lower the device and connect it to the network.
6. To cover with a lid.
7. Turn the laundry every 10 minutes.
8. Stop the ultrasound device after 1-1.5 hours.
9. Rinse and squeeze the laundry, hang it or send it to the dryer.

In fact, if you act the same way, but without ultrasound, the effect will be no worse. This is what causes doubt in the gadget.

Tip
Hot water is not suitable for silk, delicate synthetics, most prints of modern clothes, for dyed fabrics (it is recommended to wash them at 30-40 degrees), nylon, wool and lace.

How to check the work

Mistresses try different ways to make sure: erases the device or not. A couple of examples:

• wash socks in the same way in hot water from one pair, but one with the appliance, the other without;
• take photos before washing and after.

Although the owners argue, expert observations prove that ultrasound erases poorly.

Why such performance?

Actually, the problem is not ultrasound - the problem is the way it is used:

1. The appliance pumps water and laundry at the same pace. Figuratively, it’s like the curtains that the wind sways. The fabric flutters, but the dust does not fly out - you need to abruptly stop it by hitting it with a knocker so that the dirt particles fly out.
2. Lingerie absorbs a sound wave, like a silencer.
3. Bubbles are maximally destructive strictly in distilled water (and where to get it for each wash?).

Hypothesis
It seems more efficient to use ultrasound with a guided wave, supplemented by a stream of water and some special composition, by analogy with a dental gel. In this case, the matter should be stretched, for example, between the fingers, and the distance to the working head should be from a few millimeters to 1 centimeter.

How to check the ultrasonic machine for serviceability:

• bring your hand close to the emitter to feel the air vibrations,
• immerse in water and make sure that bubbles form.

How to choose

purity.bigbadmole.com/en/ magazine does not recommend its readers spend money on ultrasound. The experiments show a low, almost zero efficiency of the device, the usual soaking with stirring acts similarly. If you still want to experiment, pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. The number of emitters. Two will create enough chaotic movement of water to enhance the action of the detergent.
2. Size: a small emitter will create less oscillation and will swing too much in the water, which will further reduce the effectiveness of the method.
3. Frequency: 30 kHz hit the water harder than 22.
4. Warranty period: the longer it is, the longer the device will last.

TOP-3 ultrasonic washing machines

Another important parameter is the brand. Buyers of the Yandex.Market service consider the following brands as the best:

• Ultraton. Product of the St. Petersburg company "Nevoton." Model MS-2000 costs about 1,500 rubles. It has 1 emitter, it is recommended for use in 0.5 l of water, the declared washing time is 30 minutes.

• "Retona." It has been produced by the Tomsk Scientific and Production Association Reton since 1998. Operating frequency - 50 kHz, power consumption - 9-30 watts. The main minus is the cost of more than 2000 rubles.

• "Dune". Also, the Tomsk device is being developed, manufactured and sold by the “Medical and Environmental Center“ Dunes ”. It costs from 1300 rubles, power - up to 60 kHz, the permissible washing volume - up to 20 liters. In the instructions for use, the manufacturer frankly warns that the device only enhances the action of the detergent and complements the usual washing machine.

Alternative
Ultrasonic bathtubs are gaining more and more popularity - something like a metal basin with an ultrasonic wave emitter attached to the bottom. The principle of operation is the same, cavitation, but it is enhanced by the resonance of the pelvis and the supply network. Frequency - 40 kHz. Another difference from UZSM is that the device operates on a strictly specified volume of water. And the third - plaque is cleaned in such bathtubs (first of all, rust) from various solid objects (mainly metal ones: from bearings to jewelry). The procedure is quite successful if the resonance is well calculated.

UZSM do it yourself

Any aerator is quite useful for creating cavitation - taking a finished device is much more reliable and safer than assembling it with your own hands. However, if the experience with electrical equipment allows, it will be possible to assemble the USSM with your own hands at home.

A few general recommendations:

1. It is extremely difficult to configure the device without an oscilloscope, since ultrasound is in an inaudible range.
2. Conventional batteries, phone or car batteries are suitable for power.
3. To connect the device to an electrical outlet, you will need to solder the rectifier and step-down transformer, since the output should be no more than 15 watts, and 220 in the outlet.
4. The emitter gives too weak waves, and to amplify them, an ultrasonic oscillator is required.
5. It is convenient to mount the radio parts onto the plate using silicone or epoxy glue.
6. The piezoelectric element and the membrane can be taken from ordinary Chinese toys or an alarm clock.
7. Do not forget to provide a regulator to tune the device to the desired frequency.

How to assemble quickly:

1. Use the power supply for an old mobile phone.
2. Disassemble the power supply to the circuit board.
3. Determine where the capacitor is. If it is soldered after the rectifiers, it must be removed.
4. Now close the “+” rectifier with the transformer input.
5. Put the piezoelectric element closing: solder the wires for it to the output contacts of the transformer.
6. Glue the emitter to the plastic case, allow to dry.
7. Solder the wires to the element.
8. Route the wires leading to the power supply into the hole in the housing.
9. Close the housing by sealing or covering the joints with silicone or epoxy glue.

Tip
For greater protection against moisture, it is recommended to completely seal the piezoelectric element with a sealant, and for this, fill it in several layers.

An ultrasonic washing machine is, in many ways, just a publicity stunt.Much more effective are ultrasonic waves acting on solid objects and impurities with a sufficiently strong resonance, as in ultrasonic baths. The underwear in the water oscillates with the waves and dampens the ultrasound like a silencer. In addition, only colorless cotton can be washed in hot water, and most modern wardrobe and bedding require delicate washing at 40 degrees. So you should give preference to a good automatic washing machine, which has both gentle modes and boiling - the device quickly pays for itself in free time, as it rinses and squeezes it out by itself.