If there is one device that captures the “work smarter not harder” catchphrase, it is the ultrasonic cleaners. Rather than using powerful cleaners or abrasive brushes or materials, ultrasonic cleaners use high frequency to thoroughly clean items inside and out. The Magnasonic MGUC500 is a popular and affordable $39.99 ultrasonic cleaner. With a 600 mL capacity, the MGUC500 is designed for smaller items such as glasses, bike chains or other items that fit inside the stainless steel 5.4 x 3.6 x 2.1 inches chamber. Although Magnasonic describes the MGUC500 as a professional ultrasonic cleaner, it does lack a heating element. Unlike the similar non-timer Magnasonic CD2800 ultrasonic cleaner, the MGUC500 features a 5 mode digital timer with automatic shutoff.

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Retail Price$39.99
Rating9.0 / 10
Weight (in g)914
Likes+ Affordable price
+ Auto shut off allows you to walk away
+ Cleans inside crevices and hard to reach areas
Dislikes– Small capacity limits what can be cleaned
– May not clean as well as heated cleaners
Where to Buy (US)Magnasonic

UNBOXING

The MGUC500 ultrasonic cleaner comes in a Magnasonic branded small cardboard box with specs printed directly on it. Inside the box you’ll find the ultrasonic cleaner, removable plastic cleaning tray, and a single page instruction manual.

FIT & FINISH

With external dimensions of only 5.4 x 8.2 x 5.8 inches, the Magnasonic MGUC500 is a compact ultrasonic cleaner. Compared to the marketing photos, we were quite surprised with just how small the ultrasound cleaner was in person. The MGUC500 has a rounded rectangular profile with silver plastic exterior that looks similar to a small toaster.  On the front, you’ll find the digital timer display with three buttons: On, Off, and Set. The “Set” button allows a selection of upto five different operation modes with preset timer values of 1.5, 3, 4.6, 6.3, and 8 minutes. The longer times should be used on items with more stubborn dirt or grime. The MGUC500 automatically shuts off once the time runs out so you don’t have to constantly watch over.

Magnasonic MGUC500 Ultrasonic Cleaner Review - Tray
Despite the budget price, the MGUC500 has a stainless steel chamber and a simple plastic parts tray.

A simple non-locking top door gives you easy access to the interior of the ultrasonic cleaner and even includes a transparent window to let you see through. The non-lock design also means you could potentially put larger items partially into the cleaner. Unlike more expensive ultrasonic cleaners which feature multiple transducers and heating coils to control the temperature of the fluid, the MGUC500 is designed for ease of use and compactness which makes it better suited for smaller items such as jewelry, sunglasses, coins or other small items. While bicycle cassettes won’t fit inside the ultrasonic cleaner, other small items such as chains, stem faceplates, or bolts can.

USABILITY

One of the reasons ultrasonic cleaners are so popular is because the non-touch design is so effective at cleaning every nook or cranny. This means they are able to clean between hinges or hard to reach areas of sunglasses or other items. We found the MGUC500 to be very useful for cleaning sunglasses and even bike chains using water or mild cleaners such as dishwashing soap or diluted Simple Green. Even though the MGUC500 doesn’t have as much power or heating as higher end ultrasonic cleaners, it can still quickly clean items. We found that even grimmy bike chains and sunglasses came out nearly brand new after a few minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner.

Magnasonic MGUC500 Ultrasonic Cleaner Review - Interface
The ultrasonic cleaner has a simple three button interface that allows you turn the cleaner on, off and cycling through the time presets.

Unlike large ultrasonic cleaners which require side drains, the light weight makes it very easy to simply lift and pour the fluid out between cleanings. The simple three button interface is easy to operate but does mean you can’t program in custom times. Instead, you need to use the set button to cycle through the five presets with the amount of seconds remaining being displayed on the illuminated LCD screen. What’s nice to see with the MGUC500 is that even though most of it is constructed of plastic, the interior uses a durable metal chamber. One con of the MGUC500 is that the included plastic cleaning tray does not have raised handles which makes it a little awkward to remove without getting your hands wet.

Magnasonic MGUC500 Ultrasonic Cleaner Review - Top Profile
The MGUC500 isn’t much larger than a toaster and features a transparent lid that allows you to watch the cleaning process.

THE VERDICT

Overall, we found the Magnasonic MGUC500 to be an affordable and easy to use ultrasonic cleaner. The budget-friendly $39.99 price and compact size means it’s easy to use the MGUC500 around the house or garage for cleaning jewelry, smaller bicycle items, hardware or sunglasses. Although you won’t be able to fit a bicycle cassette into the cleaning chamber, other smaller items such as chains, bolts or other hardware can easily be used. Even using water or mild cleaners, the ultrasonic cleaner is still to thoroughly clean hard to reach areas to make them look new again. Note, the MGUC500 doesn’t have any heating elements, so we’d recommend a larger heating ultrasonic cleaner for automotive or larger applications. That said, if you’ve been looking for a fast way to clean smaller bicycle parts or household items without spending a lot of money, the Magnasonic MGUC500 is a great option.

Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Magnasonic. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.

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