My old college roommate gave me one that has about a 4-quart capacity. It also warms the reservoir as it runs. I would never go back to cleaning components by hand.


In 5 minutes, anything is clean. Usually, I scrape away any surface grime/grit buildup and go over everything with a toothbrush prior to immersing in the ultrasonic unit.

When I service someone's drivetrain, I usually remove the derailleurs and give them a thorough cleaning - they come out looking brand new. Just a bit of WD-40 after a rinse (to chase the residual water), some drying time, and lubrication - and they're ready to go. Takes 20 minutes while I'm off doing something else.

For fluid, I use a dilute mixture of Dollar-store liquid degreaser/cleaner (although I can't remember its one-word name, maybe Awesome) mostly as a surfactant, sometimes with a bit of Dawn added to cut grease. For lightly rusted steel bits, I might use vinegar or a weak oxalic acid solution.

For disposal, it's the basement bathroom toilet (sorry). I try to change the fluid pretty frequently.

Again - I don't see how I could have survived without one before...