Learn the difference between jewelry steam cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners, compare options for front- and back-of-store use, and find the best cleaning equipment for your business.

Professional jewelry cleaning equipment for a jewelry shop

Whether you’re cleaning a customer’s ring before returning it, preparing jewelry after a repair, or maintaining showcase inventory, having the right cleaning equipment helps you work more efficiently while delivering a professional presentation.

Steam cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners each serve an important purpose in a jewelry shop, but they aren’t interchangeable. Understanding how they work and which models best fit your business can help you invest in equipment that supports both your workflow and customers.

Steam Cleaners vs. Ultrasonics: What’s the Difference?

Although both are designed to clean jewelry, steam cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners remove dirt in different ways.

  • Steam cleaners use pressurized dry steam to rinse away loosened contaminants while leaving jewelry clean and dry. They provide a polished, professional finish and are commonly used as the final step before presenting jewelry to a customer.
  • Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to create microscopic bubbles that gently loosen oils, polishing compounds, and debris from hard-to-reach areas. They’re ideal for deep cleaning before inspection, repair, or polishing.

Many jewelry stores use both pieces of equipment together, allowing the ultrasonic to remove buildup and the steam cleaner to provide the finishing touch.

Steam Cleaners

Front of Store

For front-counter cleaning and light repair work, compact steamers offer excellent performance without taking up valuable counter space.

GemOro® Superior Instruments Ultraspa Ultrasonic & Steam Cleaner

GemOro Superior Instruments Ultraspa ultrasonic and steam cleaner

This compact steamer delivers 50 PSI of dry steam with a 2.2-liter tank, providing quick warm-up times and minimal downtime between refills. It’s an excellent option for cleaning customer jewelry during intake or before returning finished repairs.

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Reliable 5100CJ Jewelry Steam Cleaner

Reliable 5100CJ jewelry steam cleaner

Offering the same 50 PSI dry steam with a 2.2-liter tank, this unit is another dependable choice for front-of-store application. Its compact footprint makes it easy to incorporate into smaller workspaces while still providing professional cleaning performance.

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Hoffman EVD-1 Steam Cleaner

Hoffman EVD-1 steam cleaner

Designed for jewelers who want longer operations without sacrificing counter space, this steam cleaner delivers 40 PSI of dry steam with a one-gallon tank. The larger capacity reduces refill frequency, making it ideal for stores with a steady flow of customer cleanings throughout the day.

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Back of Store

Reliable 6000CJ Jewelry Steam Cleaner

Reliable 6000CJ jewelry steam cleaner

This lightweight steamer delivers 65 PSI of dry steam from a 1.26-gallon tank, providing up to six hours of operation. Its compact footprint and manageable weight make it an excellent choice for repair benches where space and mobility matter.

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Hoffman JEL3 Steamer

Hoffman JEL3 jewelry steamer

Built for high-volume environments, this heavy-duty steam cleaner operates between 70 and 90 PSI with a two-gallon tank that minimizes refill interruptions. Its larger footprint makes it best suited for dedicated bench areas where continuous cleaning is a priority.

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Eitan LSE-6 Steam Cleaner for Jewelry Cleaning

Eitan LSE-6 steam cleaner for jewelry cleaning

For shops looking to increase productivity, this option provides professional-grade performance designed for demanding daily use. Its larger capacity makes it well suited for repair departments that regularly clean multiple pieces throughout the day.

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Ultrasonic Cleaners

Front of Store

GemOro® Superior Instruments LuxeSpa Personal Ultrasonic

GemOro Superior Instruments LuxeSpa personal ultrasonic cleaner

With intuitive controls and timer settings ranging from 90 seconds to eight minutes, this ultrasonic is simple to operate for both jewelers and customers. Its compact design also makes it an excellent retail add-on for customers who want a convenient way to clean their jewelry at home.

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Best Built Mini 1.2 Quart Ultrasonic

Best Built Mini 1.2 quart ultrasonic jewelry cleaner

Small enough for a front counter but powerful enough for commercial use, this ultrasonic delivers professional-strength agitation in a space-saving design. It’s a great solution for stores that regularly clean customer jewelry throughout the day.

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L&R® PC3 .56 Quart Ultrasonic

L and R PC3 .56 quart ultrasonic jewelry cleaner

As the most compact ultrasonic in the lineup, this unit is ideal when bench or counter space is limited. Instead of using a preset timer, it operates continuously, giving jewelers complete control over cleaning duration.

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Back of Store

Elma® Select 2.85 Quart Ultrasonic

Elma Select 2.85 quart ultrasonic jewelry cleaner

Featuring five cleaning modes and a 2.85-quart capacity, this versatile ultrasonic adapts to a variety of cleaning tasks. Its flexible settings make it an excellent all-purpose solution for many jewelry repair shops.

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L&R® Quantrex® 6 Quart Ultrasonic

L and R Quantrex 6 quart ultrasonic jewelry cleaner

With a generous six-quart capacity and a convenient built-in drain, this ultrasonic is designed for higher-volume cleaning. The larger tank makes it easy to process multiple pieces while simplifying maintenance throughout the workday.

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Best Built 10 Quart Ultrasonic

Best Built 10 quart ultrasonic jewelry cleaner

When bench space is limited, this compact ultrasonic offers an excellent balance of size and performance. Its higher-than-average vibration frequency provides effective cleaning while maintaining a small footprint that’s ideal for crowded workstations.

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Before You Clean

Not every piece of jewelry should be placed in a steam cleaner or ultrasonic cleaner. Before cleaning any item, take a few moments to evaluate the piece.

  • Determine whether the jewelry contains gemstones and identify which stones are present.
  • Inspect for loose settings, previous repairs, fractures, or signs of wear.
  • Consider whether the jewelry has received treatments that could be affected by heat, steam, or ultrasonic vibration.
  • Antique or delicate pieces may require hand cleaning with a gentle cleaning solution and a soft cloth instead of mechanical cleaning equipment.

Finding the Right Equipment for Your Shop

Whether you’re setting up a new workspace or upgrading your current cleaning station, selecting the right equipment can help improve efficiency, simplify your workflow, and ensure every piece leaves your counter or your bench looking its best.

At Stuller, you’ll find a wide selection of professional-grade steam cleaners, ultrasonic cleaners, and jewelry cleaning supplies designed to support every type of jewelry business — from compact front-of-store work to high-volume repair benches.

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