| Ionic cleaning - Never heard of it - or unsure how it | | | | item is so far gone, but certainly far superior results |
| works? | | | | than using many other methods. Ionic cleaning gets |
| First, I will give you a quick run down on using the | | | | into every nook and cranny. |
| Ionic system. | | | | Using this type of unit gives you cleaning and polishing |
| It' s pretty easy really. The basic unit, of the type I | | | | in one easy step. It is a form of electro polishing. The |
| use, is like a small cauldron. It runs on one 9 volt | | | | Ionic system uses polishing agents and gentle soap |
| battery. On the bottom, inside the unit, is a round | | | | cleansers to remove tarnish and dirt with a safe |
| aluminum plate. This creates a reaction with the | | | | bubbling action. These bubbles are formed by the |
| solution you pour into the unit. | | | | carefully controlled electrical current that passes |
| This solution is diluted with water. Only a small | | | | through metals reducing surface tension of dirt and |
| amount is mixed with water, typically 1 part | | | | floating it and tarnish away - instantly. Restores metal |
| concentrate to 6 parts water. | | | | lustre and stone brilliance. It is a safe cleaner for |
| Once you have this set up you are ready to clean! If | | | | emeralds, opals, pearls and is an especially good |
| you are only cleaning one piece, all you do is to | | | | cleaner for diamonds, really makes them sparkle. |
| attach it to the unit's crocodile clip. If you have | | | | The reason it is so good for so many stones is that |
| several pieces to clean, you can do them all in one go | | | | the cleaning solution contains no acids or ammonia, it |
| by placing them in the stainless steel wire basket that | | | | is also odourless. Using the same solution, you can |
| comes with the unit. | | | | clean gold, silver, gold-filled and costume jewellery. |
| Although you can fill the basket up with jewelery, I | | | | Note: I have heard that drusy (quartz crystal) stones |
| have found, for best results each piece should not | | | | should not be cleaned in an ionic cleaner because of |
| touch another. A little tip, when cleaning the likes of | | | | their delicate crystal structure. I haven't tested that |
| chains, you get best results by dipping section by | | | | theory, but I don't recommend ionic cleaning of drusy |
| section into the solution. | | | | unless you can first test a small piece of it that you |
| When you have everything ready, sit the item or | | | | don't mind messing up if it gets damaged. Always |
| basket in the solution you activate the unit by | | | | test small items or areas if unsure! |
| pressing a little red button on the side of the unit. | | | | |
| Remove after whatever time period, rinse thoroughly | | | | Now, a little more in depth information about the |
| and dry. That's basically it! | | | | cleaning solution |
| The amount of time to keep an item in the solution | | | | The concentrate is an odourless cleaning solution an |
| depends on a few things. The main point being the | | | | effective, fast-acting degreaser, which also removes |
| type of metal, sterling silver, other silver and base | | | | oxidation and brightens metal to a like-new finish. It |
| metal takes the least amount of time to clean. An | | | | acts as the electrolyte in the ionic cleaning process |
| exact time is difficult to pinpoint as it depends on the | | | | and can be used repeatedly before it needs to be |
| amount of tarnish or dirt on the piece. The average | | | | replaced. Dilution for general cleaning is 1 part |
| time is approximately 10 seconds - yes - only 10 | | | | concentrate to 6 parts water. |
| seconds. Gold items, whether solid, plated, rolled/filled | | | | It contains no caustic chemicals or ammonia, which |
| or whatever takes longer. Again, exact time depends | | | | makes it safe to the user and the environment. |
| on tarnish, etc., the average being 20 seconds. I have | | | | The Basic Ionic Way |
| found the best way to approach all cleaning in the | | | | Ionic Cleaners work by electrolysis. Ions are attached |
| unit is to dip, rinse and check every 5 to 10 seconds | | | | to dirt and grease rather than metals and stones. |
| and repeat as many times as necessary to get the | | | | Surface tension is reduced permitting dirt, tarnish and |
| best results. | | | | oxidation to be lifted away from jewellery or other |
| As I said, there are other factors to consider though | | | | metal pieces with gentle bubbles without abrasion. No |
| if you follow the dip, rinse, dip method you really | | | | metal is lost. Stones are safely cleaned without |
| can't go wrong. The worst thing to do is thinking that | | | | potentially damaging friction, heat or abrasion that |
| an item is so dirty, I'll leave it in for a minute or two - | | | | other cleaners produce. Rinsing and drying after |
| maybe even 3 minutes. This can result in damage | | | | immersion naturally enhances renewed lustre. |
| through over exposure. Stick to seconds for each | | | | How does it differ from an ultrasonic? |
| dip. | | | | Ultrasonic cleaners use cavitation to bombard items |
| I have used this method on my jewelery for quite | | | | with sound waves. This can be damaging to some |
| some time now and over time you get to know how | | | | stones and can ultimately damage some metals. |
| long it takes for the various metals and | | | | Ultrasonic cleaners have their place in manufacturing |
| concentrations of tarnish, dirt, etc., | | | | shops, and even there, ionic cleaners are used as the |
| The results I have experienced on cubic zirconia | | | | final brightening step in the polishing process. Ionic |
| stones is nothing short of fantastic, what a sparkle | | | | cleaners are used for ultimate safety in gemstone |
| they have after cleaning! I have also cleaned some | | | | cleaning. |
| old and very dirty pieces with good results. | | | | I hope that helps in de-mystifying the Ionic process! |
| Sometimes perfect results are not achievable if an | | | | |