Buying Guide
The Best Jewelry Steam Cleaners Of 2023: Our Top Picks For Spotless Workpieces
9 Minute Read
There's no better way to get your workpieces squeaky-clean than with a professional steam cleaner. Using heat and water vapor, the best jewelry steam cleaners can quickly remove all the grime and dirt that accumulate on jewelry over time and during the fabrication process.
However, with all the different models available on the market, choosing the right steam cleaner for your specific needs is not the easiest of tasks. How do you make the right decision?
We did the legwork for you and reviewed some of our steam-cleaning favorites! Keep reading to find out which are the best steam cleaners money can buy and make sure to scroll through our buying guide where we go over the most important factors you need to consider before you make a purchasing decision.
Comparison Chart
Budget
Capacity
2 quart
Warranty
2.5 years on the unit and 10 years on the transducer
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The Best Jewelry Steam Cleaners Of 2020
"It's the perfect choice for professionals, businesses, and all the people who need to clean a lot of pieces of jewelry on a daily basis."
The Reliable 5000CJ is our pick in the best investment category, as it's made from the highest-quality materials, offers pro-grade power and capacity, and comes with a lifetime warranty. It's the perfect choice for professionals, businesses, and all the people who need to clean a lot of pieces of jewelry on a regular basis.
Pros:
Reliable as a brand has a reputation that precedes them - and if anyone has been wondering why, their 5000CJ model showcases it pretty well - it's made in Italy and made to last. This steam cleaner is really well-made compared to the competition, and the manufacturer uses durable stainless steel, which is the gold standard when it comes to these cleaning machines.
"The product is made from durable stainless steel."
As you'd expect from our professional-grade pick, the Reliable 5000CJ boasts a superior, 2,5-liter water tank capacity that allows for four continuous hours of steam. Our budget pick, the GemOro 2QTH, offers only one hour of continuous steam, which is significantly less. While the Reliable is overkill for the casual user, its ability to go for hours on a single tank is a gamechanger for pros!
With the Reliable 5000CJ, you can be sure that both you and your workpieces are safe - even the most delicate ones. The model has four built-in safety systems, including a pressure gauge that allows you to monitor the internal boiler pressure, giving you full control over the process.
However, maybe the most impressive thing about the Reliable 5000CJ steam cleaner is the lifetime warranty it offers. If you want to feel safe and confident with your purchase, this steam cleaner has you covered. It's an investment you won't have to make again!
Cons:
The only downside of this product is that the large water tank capacity makes the Reliable 5000CJ steam cleaner large and heavy. This might be a problem for people who are looking for something more portable or who are tight on space in their workshop.
It's also fairly expensive, though it isn't exorbitant by any means.
Best for Most People
2. SharperTek H20 Jewelry Steam Cleaner: Best For Most People
Get it on amazon.com"This option offers great value for an affordable price."
Our top choice for most people is the SharperTek H20 Jewelry Steam Cleaner. This option offers great value for an affordable price. It's extremely powerful, safe, and portable. You'll have no problem placing it even in a small workspace, while you'll still get the efficiency of a larger model.
Pros:
The SharperTek H20 solves the problem of low water capacity and excess pressure buildup by using an external water source and internal aluminum thermal core heaters. With this arrangement, it becomes a safer option than other models within the same price range and can compete with powerful high capacity models.
"The SharperTek H20 solves the problem of low water capacity, and excess pressure buildup…"
Another impressive feature of the SharperTek H20 is the 90 psi steam pressure capacity, which makes this steam cleaner one of the most powerful and efficient models on the market. While pressure isn't the only thing that matters on a machine like this, the SharperTek H20 can easily compete with high-end models like the Reliable 5000CJ, a model that only has 50 PSI high-pressure steam.
Because the model uses an external water source and has no tank, it's compact and portable. This is a great advantage to anyone who doesn't have a fixed working place and needs to use the steam cleaner in different environments.
Cons:
The SharperTek H20 comes with only a one-year warranty, which is considerably less than GemOro 2QTH's 2.5 years and Reliable 5000CJ's lifetime warranty.
Another drawback is that this model doesn't produce continuous steam, but uses short, 45-second bursts, in-between which you have a 30-second heating time. If you work with larger pieces, it can take a bit longer to clean them completely than it would with the Reliable. This is also the flip side of the SharperTek's higher-pressure steam: it doesn't work continuously. However, it's still very effective.
"The GemOro 2HQTH is our top budget-friendly pick."
The GemOro 2HQTH is our top budget-friendly pick. It's made from high-quality materials, with a stainless steel tank, offering value and respectable durability for a really affordable price. It's the least we think you can pay for a functional steam cleaner.
Pros:
One of the best things about this model is the stainless steel tank, which is the number one choice for pressurized steam cleaners around the world. Unlike other affordable steam cleaners that use cast iron, with the GemOro 2QTH, you can be sure this tank will not rust. Plus, steel is safer to use from the get-go.
"with the GemOro 2QTH, you can be sure the tank will not rust."
This steam cleaner is quite powerful for something in the budget range. It has the ability to speed up the cleaning process while maintaining maximum pressure regardless of load and liquid levels. This is possible because the GemOro 2QTH uses exclusive Instantaneous Digital Degassing (IDD) and Automatic Load Self-Tuning (ALST).
Additionally, the GemOro 2QTH allows you some basic control over the pressure intensity, as it features two intense cleaning power settings. The Turbo Sweep Technology® for the tougher materials and the Power Sweep Technology® for more delicate workpieces.
Lastly, this model comes with a 2.5-year warranty on the unit and a separate, 10-year warranty on the transducer. The solid warranty coverage makes this product a much safer investment than other budget models.
Cons:
One significant drawback of the GemOro 2QTH model is the smaller tank (0.5-gallon/ 1.9l capacity), which lasts only up to an hour. The small thank capacity means it might not be able to keep up with professional jewelers working with many pieces of jewelry throughout the day.
Likewise, it's all of the things you'd expect from something more affordable than our other picks: less reliable, less powerful, and less solidly built. Still, we think it's by far the best in its bracket.
Conclusion:
Our ultimate favorite is the Reliable 5000CJ steam cleaner, as it's both durable and powerful. The product is built more sturdily than anything else on the market, it's more reliable, it's more powerful, and it's safer. The Reliable 5000CJ is the perfect option for experienced professionals and businesses.
"The Reliable 5000CJ is the perfect option for experienced professionals and businesses."
However, not everyone can afford the Reliable 5000CJ, which is why our top choice for most people is the SharperTek H20 jewelry steam cleaner. The SharperTek offers an incredible value for the money you're paying. Plus, it comes with internal aluminum thermal core heaters and an external water source, solving the problem of low water capacity and safety issues that are common in models with a similar price tag. Whether you're a professional or a newbie in the industry, the SharperTek steam cleaner can get the job done efficiently and fast.
"Whether you're a professional or a newbie in the industry, the SharperTek steam cleaner can get the job done efficiently and fast."
GemOro 2QTH is the best choice on a budget, as it offers a level of quality that is hard to beat considering the price tag. Keeping up with the high-end models, the GemOro 2QTH also comes with a stainless steel tank and adjustable steam pressure power intensities, so you can have full control when you're using it on more sensitive materials. However, because of the lower tank capacity, working on large pieces with the GemOro is much slower than with the pricier models on our list.
How To Choose The Best Jewelry Steam Cleaners
To make your life easier, we've made a list of the most important factors you should consider before you buy your jewelry steam cleaner.
Water Tank Capacity
Not only do steam cleaners differ in their water tank capacity, like between the Reliable and the GemOro, but they can also come with internal heaters and external water sources, like the SharperTek cleaner.
Internal tanks are much more practical, as you only need to fill them with water - but you do need to refill them frequently. Plus, they make the product heavy and big. External water sources, on the other hand, allow for a much more compact model and a limitless water supply. The downside to an external water source with internal heaters is that you'll have to place the product near a water supply and work with slower pulse steam (instead of continuous).
"You want a machine that can keep up with your speed."
So, ask yourself how many pieces of jewelry a day you need to clean before committing to a product.
The water tank capacity determines how much time you'll have, or in other words, how many pieces of jewelry you can clean before having to refill your steam cleaner and wait for it to heat. This can really affect your workflow and cause problems for jewelers who work with many pieces of jewelry a day. You want a machine that can keep up with your speed.
Steam Pressure Capacity
A steam cleaner's maximal pressure is measured in pounds per square inch or psi. The higher the pressure and boiler temperature, the quicker your jewelry will be cleaned.
"You should make sure that the steam pressure and temperature can be adjusted and controlled."
Another reason why you should be careful about the steam pressure capacity is that some pieces of jewelry are more sensitive than others. You should make sure that the steam pressure and temperature can be adjusted and controlled. That way, you never have to worry about destroying a valuable piece of jewelry.
Warranty
When buying a machine it's always a smart idea to search for a model with a good warranty. All the products reviewed in this guide have great warranties.
"While the SharperTek comes with a one-year warranty, the Reliable 5000CJ offers an unmatched lifetime warranty."
With jewelry steam cleaners, a higher price point always goes with a higher quality warranty. For example, while the SharperTek comes with a one-year warranty, the Reliable 5000CJ offers an unmatched lifetime warranty.
What's Next?
We hope that you found our jewelry steam cleaner recommendations and buying guide helpful. By now, you should have a clear idea of what you really need, and hopefully, you have already found the perfect match for you in one of the products we've reviewed.
However, if you're still undecided, make sure to follow the title links to find out the specific prices, in-depth specifications, and customer reviews about each of our recommendations.
And while you're here, see all the jewelry-making tools we recommend to make sure you're aren't missing some great piece of equipment.
You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of the safety resources available on or through this web page. The International Gem Society LLC does not assume any liability for the materials, information and opinions provided on, or available through, this web page. No advice or information provided by this website shall create any warranty. Reliance on such advice, information or the content of this web page is solely at your own risk, including without limitation any safety guidelines, resources or precautions, or any other information related to safety that may be available on or through this web page. The International Gem Society LLC disclaims any liability for injury, death or damages resulting from the use thereof.
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