Using Ultrasonic Cleaners in Disaster Restoration

Items recovered from disasters (like floods, hurricanes, and fires) are often covered with dirt, soot and mold. There are traditional cleaning methods for cleaning recovered items such as wiping, soaking in harsh chemicals or rough mechanical scrubbing. These methods may leave residue or cause damage to these items, while there's little assurance that they would come out completely cleaned.

Ultrasonic cleaning system is the ideal alternative to the traditional methods in cleaning these items.

This system works by generating ultrasonic waves and the tiny cavitation bubbles in the water (or water mixed with a mild detergent). The bubbles form and collapse in time with the frequency of ultrasonic waves. When these bubbles collapse against the surface of the items being cleaned, they create a strong cleaning and scrubbing action, knocking off and loosening dirt and contaminants from the surface.

One of the greatest advantages of ultrasonic cleaning over traditional cleaning methods is that the former cleans the items thoroughly – even items with complicated shapes and hard-to-reach holes and crevices. It cleans effectively and precisely, without the risk of damage to the items being cleaned.

Choosing the right frequency is the key for successful cleaning. For robust items with hard surfaces, opt for the low frequency (26 to 38 kHz) which produces large, energetic cavitation bubbles for the robust cleaning action. For cleaning delicate items, choose higher frequencies (450 to 950 kHz) which generates smaller bubbles for gentler cleaning.

Adding mild but specific solvents to the cleaning solution is required only for cleaning more stubborn dirt and contaminants. This is to ensure rapid and complete cleaning of the items.

Do you need to restore items after a natural disaster? Read the complete article “Using Ultrasonic Cleaners in Disaster Restoration” to learn how ultrasonic cleaners can help. If you have questions, or would like more information, you may contact Kaijo Shibuya by calling 408-675-5575 or by sending an email to info@kaijo-shibuya.com.