Electronics Cleaning Archives - Morantz Ultrasonics

Cleaning Electronics with CRDN

A couple of years ago, CRDN (Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network) decided to expand their services to include electronics cleaning. Previously, this group of specialty dry cleaners, located throughout the US, Canada and the U.K., focused solely on restoration cleaning of textiles. When there is a fire in someone’s home, they are among the first to be called to the scene. Their job is to remove clothing, bedding, curtains, area carpets and other textiles for cleaning. For 16 years, as they provided this service, they noticed that the electronics and electric appliances in homes were growing. Items such as soot covered computers, televisions, game consoles, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, curling irons, lamps, ceiling fans and more were being left behind, and ultimately, thrown out. The insurance companies were paying out quite a bit of money to replace them. This seemed like a great niche market for them as they were already in the home after the fire, with trained staff to remove and clean items quickly. CRDN set to work to offer this new service. Two years later, the electronics cleaning business is in demand…and growing.

Ross Kollenberg, Executive Vice President of CRDN, learning how to clean a flat screen TV with the Morantz SM-200 System.

This February, Morantz was excited to be asked to attend the CRDN Super Regional Meeting in Michigan. The goal was to show the franchises our method of ultrasonic cleaning electronics and electric items. The Berkley, Michigan location had already been using our ultrasonic window blind cleaning machine to clean various types of blinds and curtains, so it was great when we had the opportunity to show off the new M-115 machine they installed for electronics cleaning. Over the course of two days, the

The Morantz “Baby” Blind Cleaning Machine for cleaning window blinds and curtains
The Morantz M-115 machine for cleaning electronics

equipment was used to clean a wide variety of items including computers, bundles of electric cords, irons, fans, toaster ovens, scanners and more to demonstrate how quickly, easily and effectively our process is. Groups of franchises were brought in to watch the live demonstrations and ask lots of great questions. Here are some photos (best viewed on a desktop computer) from the event:

Bob Fearon, President of CRDN, cleaning with the M-115
Bob shows off his work
Before (top) & After
Before photo of a soot damaged computer (also very dirty as most are)
The same soot damaged computer, interior, being prepped for cleaning
Computer submerged for two minutes
Computer after ultrasonic cleaning
Drying the computer as Wayne Wudyka, CRDN CEO, looks on
Before and After
Soot damaged (and dirty!) box fan submerged half way into the Morantz M-115 machine
After 2 minutes, you can see the incredible difference between the ultrasonically cleaned bottom half and still dirty top half

Bob Fearon, President of CRDN, told us “When we launched our Electronics Cleaning Service at CRDN, our approach from the start was to clean items from the least aggressive method to a more aggressive one, incrementally, as needed. We always want to apply the method that will give us the best chance for complete restoration of any item.

The Morantz Ultrasonic Cleaning Method and Equipment has given CRDN the ability to safely clean most electronic items in a fraction of the time of our previously used approach. It has increased our productivity and quality, while allowing us to restore items that were considered non-restorable in the past. Our Berkley, MI facility processes multiple jobs daily and the Morantz System for Cleaning Electronics has made the work more efficient.”

The staff at the Berkley, Michigan CRDN with their new Morantz M-115 Ultrasonic machine

Since the event, we have been happy to have several CRDN franchises from around the country visit with us in Philadelphia, for a closer and more in depth look at our equipment. Many will be installing systems of their own in the near future.

Cleaning soot damaged vacuum cleaner
The Morantz Drying/Ozone Cabinet for drying electronics
CRDN of Houston

We are very excited to have had the opportunity to meet with so many of the CRDN franchises, and show them how to diversify services to offer a better finished product, increase productivity and add profit to their businesses.

How to clean Electronics with Morantz Ultrasonics

Electronics Cleaning is an industry in its infancy, but Morantz has been cleaning electronics with ultrasonics for over 30 years. Our customers are way ahead of the curve when it comes to this niche market, and have been cashing in. If you are still surprised that you can clean electronics and electrical appliances with ultrasonics (yes, in water!), and want to learn more about how to clean Electronics with Morantz Ultrasonics, read on.

On site electronics cleaning with Morantz equipment

The Market: Today, nearly every aspect of cleaning brings us in contact with electronics. Homes, offices and facilities contain some combination of desktop computers, laptops, tablets, game consoles, music players and equipment, electronic musical instruments, printers, telephones, toys and more. These items cannot be ignored, especially when it comes to serious and deep cleaning for smoke, soot, water, mold and disinfection. Many cleaning services will shy away from electronics and give the job (and all the profit) to subcontractors. The reality is that if you have an ultrasonic machine, a proper drying room/drying cabinet, and instruction from Morantz, you can clean electronics.

Cleaning a flat screen television with the Morantz Ultrasonics SM-200 machine

Our customers using their machines to clean electronics are doing very well. This niche market goes well beyond restoration work and has opened the way to cleaning set top cable boxes, maintaining expensive industrial coffee and food dispensing machines, cleaning headsets for phones, cleaning power tools, cleaning electrical musical instruments, disinfection of medical equipment in hospitals, and so much more.

The Process*: Remove the electronic item’s cover and any batteries, if applicable. For computers, remove the hard drive. Pre-wash if needed. Ultrasonic clean for 1-2 minutes. Rinse with deionized water. Dry immediately and thoroughly with the Morantz Blow Dry Gun. Spray with Morantz Miracle Chemical to displace any extra moisture. Place in the Morantz Drying Cabinet (or equivalent drying room with proper temperature, relative humidity and air flow) for a minimum of four hours.

For Disinfection: If you have Morantz equipment, you already know our equipment has been tested and proven for disinfection if used properly. Ultrasonic clean for a minimum of 3 minutes in your Morantz machine (results not proven for other manufacturers). Check your cleaning work with an ATP meter. This will let you know if there is still anything “live” on the electronic item that could be viral, bacterial or otherwise problematic. Then follow all other steps above.

For On Site Cleaning: Customers with sensitive information may not allow for their computers and other electronic equipment to leave their site. All Morantz ultrasonic machines are built on wheels and can be taken to the job site. However, the most portable and least costly machine is the Z-56. For drying, we recommend building a temporary drying room using a dehumidifier, space heater (if necessary) and an air mover. Be sure the drying room still meets proper parameters for temperature and relative humidity. To see photos from one of our on site computer cleaning jobs on our Facebook page, click here. For this job we used plastic sheeting to build a temporary drying space in one corner and it worked very well.

Equipment: Every Morantz model of machine can be used for electronics cleaning, but our most popular models are the SM-200 and M-115. These machines have electric lifts that make cleaning electronics easier for the operator. There’s no heavy lifting or awkward handling of items involved. For drying, our Drye-Rite drying cabinet with ozone is ideal.

Cleaning desktop computer with the Morantz Ultrasonics M-115 line

Cleaning chandelier with Morantz Ultrasonics

The Morantz Drye Rite drying & ozone cabinet: Drying air movers

Cleaned electric guitar with the SM-200. Drying with Morantz Blow Dry Gun

*There are additional steps for specific types of electronics. This article does not take the place of training. Training is free of charge to all Morantz customers. If you want to learn more, be sure to click through all the links and contact your Morantz representative at 215-969-0266.

More photos:

Musical Instrument Cleaning with Morantz Ultrasonics

Musical instrument cleaning is an in-demand business. Whether you are an instrument repair technician, an instrument retailer, or a cleaning company, this is a great add-on service.
Many of our ultrasonic machine owners find that although they did not intend to clean musical instruments, they encounter them during the course of their business.

Cleaning a French Horn in the Morantz Z-56 Ultrasonic Machine

If you are offering soot and smoke damage contents cleaning , it is inevitable that you will need to clean musical instruments in homes and commercial facilities. If you deal with antiques and/or electronics, at some time you will be asked to clean these types of instruments. Most recently, our customers who focus on medical disinfection are being called on to clean instruments for schools that are demanding instrument infection control. For all of these reasons, it is worthwhile exploring this market and learning the proper cleaning techniques.

Tuba cleaning in the Morantz Z-56 Ultrasonic Machine

Here are some general tips for ultrasonic cleaning of musical instruments*:

Brass and other metals:
Most instruments that are brass will need to be inspected to determine if lacquer is already starting to peel off. The older the instrument is, the more likely you will see this. If it is peeling, temperature and intensity need to be kept low to avoid further damage. For other metal instruments, the temperature of cleaning should usually remain at room temperature.Before cleaning, instruments should be disassembled as much as possible. Remove all slides and buttons. If you find these parts are stuck, go ahead and clean the whole instrument in the machine for a minute, pull it out, and see if you can then loosen these parts enough to disassemble them. Then place all parts back in the machine for another 2-3 minutes. Note that you do not have to remove the felt or leather pads prior to cleaning, but if these need replacing, it’s best to go ahead and remove them at this time.Clean in stages: Pre-wash, Ultrasonic Wash, Rinse and Dry
For best results, pre-wash your instruments in a high alkaline cleaning solution such as Morantz Synergizer. This will remove oil, dirt and other build up. For the Ultrasonic Wash, you should use an acidic, descaling solution to work on the build up (from saliva) frequently seen on brass instruments. One of our favorite products is Tesch Classic Brass Cleaner. Click through for information and ordering information and view a video here on Tesch products.

Clean scale off instruments with the proper cleaning solution

Rinse the instrument with deionized water.
Dry with the Morantz Blow Dry Gun or other appropriate drying tool.

The Morantz Blow Dry Gun used to quickly dry a trombone

To watch a video of ultrasonic cleaning the above pictured trombone, click here.

To watch a video of a cleaned trumpet being dried with the Morantz Blow Dry Gun, click here.

Woodwind and String Instruments: Yes, you can clean these too if you keep the temperature and intensity low and dwell time to seconds. Only an alkaline solution should be used on these instruments (no descaler!). They also need to be dried quickly and completely as soon as they are cleaned. We recommend you use the Morantz Blow Dry Gun.

Clarinet cleaned with Ultrasonics

Electric and Electronic Instruments: Yes, you can clean these instruments too, but be sure to use only alkaline solution (no descaler!). As with all types of electronics cleaning, these instruments must be rinsed with deionized water, dried immediately and thoroughly with the Morantz Blow Dry Gun, sprayed with Morantz Miracle Chemical to displace any extra moisture, and placed in the Morantz Drying Cabinet (or equivalent drying room) for a minimum of four hours.

Electric Guitar cleaned with Ultrasonics

For Disinfection: Schools usually clean all of their instruments over the Summer, so it’s a great time to start discussing your service with them. If you have Morantz equipment, you may already know how our equipment has been tested and proven for disinfection. In the field, you can check your cleaning work with an ATP meter. This will let you know if there still anything “live” on the instrument that could be viral, bacterial or otherwise problematic.

ATP Meter displaying test results

Take before and after photos. When you are given an instrument to clean, take a good, high definition photo prior to cleaning. Take another when the job is complete. Not only will your customer appreciate seeing what a great job you did for them, but you can use these for marketing your service. Post on social media, your website, as well as taking them with you on prospective jobs. Remember that a picture is worth 1000 words.


Before Ultrasonic Cleaning


	After Ultrasonic Cleaning

Morantz manufactures a wide variety of models of machines that can be used for instrument cleaning, but our most popular models are the Z-56 “Bubba” and the Z-97 “Brother” models. Mouthpieces on brass instruments can also be cleaned in our line of SZ table top size cleaners. Click here to download our catalog and learn more.

*This article does not take the place of training. Training is free of charge to all Morantz customers. If you want to learn more, be sure to contact your Morantz representative at 215-969-0266..

FEATURED SUCCESS STORY: AmeriDri of Colorado Springs

Incorporating Ultrasonic Contents Restoration into AmeriDri’s Fire Restoration Services Brings in Big Business!

The AmeriDri staff proudly shows off their Training Certificate from Morantz Ultrasonics

Joe Crivello, owner of AmeriDri in Colorado Springs, CO knew he needed a better system for Contents Restoration. Although his staff works very hard, cleaning by hand was just taking too long. Not only that, items were not getting fully cleaned and the types of items he could clean was frustratingly limited. To make matter worse, all of this was impacting his profits.

According to Joe, “I began researching Ultrasonic equipment and Morantz came highly recommended to me. I wanted a piece of equipment that I could grow with, yet would not take up a great deal of space, would work with my current electrical capacity in my facility (110v), and that would be affordable. Luckily the Morantz M-115 “Mighty One” fit all of my requirements.”

Cleaning Crystal and Glassware during training with the Morantz M-115 "Mighty One" Ultrasonic Content Cleaning Machine — Cleaning Crystal and Glassware during training with the Morantz M-115 “Mighty One” Ultrasonic Contents Cleaning Machine

When Joe took delivery of his machine, he immediately got to work telling his customers about all of the new contents he could clean for them. “I was so excited to be able to offer electronics cleaning as part of our services,” said Joe. “When I started to actually get the jobs to clean Electronics in house, I knew it was time to train my staff properly on all the techniques using this amazing machine. We were so excited; Lisa Morantz personally came to our facility to perform our training. Lisa worked with my staff on multiple jobs that we had waiting. Everything from crystal to stuffed animals to computers was covered, and that was just the beginning. My staff was so excited they began bringing in personal items from their desks and cars to learn what else we can clean.”

Joe continues, “Something else that I learned during our training session is that we can now maintain own restoration equipment in our M-115 machine. This has made cleaning our equipment an easy process and is a huge time saver!”

Joe’s staff absolutely loves the Mighty One’s pneumatic lift. This feature alone helped with the staff’s “buy in” because it makes cleaning easy by lowering items into the tank and raising them out with the touch of a lever. “I was sold on this important feature as I didn’t want my staff dealing with heavy lifting,” He said. Plus, Joe recognizes the benefit of processing 4 contents baskets at once. This capability moves the cleaning along at a very fast rate.

“During training, Lisa spent time discussing my facility layout and made specific suggestions to improve our workflow,” said Joe. “This was one of the advantages to having her come out and spend time with us. Plus, Lisa covered all aspects of our business, not just the ins and outs of the equipment. My manager and I even reviewed our marketing strategies with her. Lisa made several recommendations on selling the service that I plan to incorporate into my business.”

Joe has also incorporated iCAT, Morantz’s software partner, into his process. With these professional tools in place, AmeriDri has been experiencing tremendous growth, and more importantly, can handle the growth with ease.

Joe Crivello, Owner of AmeriDri, giving his Morantz "Mighty One" the thumbs up. — Joe Crivello, Owner of AmeriDri, giving his Morantz “Mighty One” the thumbs up.

Congratulations to Joe and AmeriDri and best wishes for their continued Success.

How to Stay Clean in Space

At Morantz, we love talking about different kinds of cleaning. In this post, we discuss issues with keeping clean in space. As it turns out, it’s a big problem.

One of the challenges of space missions is keeping clean. While personal hygiene is difficult enough in space, future missions to the Moon and Mars are going to encounter another, very difficult cleaning problem; dust contamination.

Most people don’t realize this, but space is a very dusty and dirty place. Comets are often described as “dirty snowballs” and the Apollo astronauts experienced significant problems on the Moon with lunar dust (see: NASA’s Dirty Secret: Moon Dust , and What a Little Moon Dust Can Do).

On January 16, the Mars Society posted to space.com about the problems they’re having keeping their “mock” Mars base clean. The Mars Society is conducting a mock “mission” to learn about how astronauts might live on Mars at their Desert Research Station near Hanksville, Utah (for full coverage, click here). The problems they’re having with dirt and dust contamination are pretty serious. These problems include the amount of time it takes just to clean their equipment. Another is that the dust is getting everywhere. And that’s here on Earth (under gravity). Imagine what can happen when the dust is floating around your spaceship.

What’s a wayward astronaut to do?

At Morantz, we’ve provided ultrasonic cleaning systems to NASA for various applications and we’ve identified three problems with dirt and dust in space:

It wears down critical components: Not only can the static electricity damage valuable and critical equipment, the dust itself gets into seals and wears them down. When you’re floating around an asteroid, you don’t want your spacesuit leaking.
It creates health risks: Even after roughly fifty years of space travel, we really don’t know what’s in all that dust, that’s why we want to go and collect samples. While most people worry about little alien space viruses, the chemicals that make up the dust itself could be poisonous. The astronauts on the Moon said that lunar dust smelled and tasted like gunpowder. Nasty!
The unknown: Who knows what else could happen? Space, buy it’s nature, is unpredictable.

Astronaut Gene Cernan on the Moon in December 1972. His spacesuit is blackened by lunar dust. According to NASA, “a real hazard that might have caused hatch and spacesuit seals to fail on a longer surface mission.” [NASA/JSC] — Astronaut Gene Cernan on the Moon in December 1972. His spacesuit is blackened by lunar dust. According to NASA, “*a real hazard that might have caused hatch and spacesuit seals to fail on a longer surface mission.*” [NASA/JSC]

Considering the problems and potential dangers for dust contamination and the limited water supplies (astronauts have to bring everything with them), the solution is both obvious and simple; they need to use Ultrasonics to clean their equipment.

Now, Ultrasonics does require water, something that’s in limited supply in space. That means they would have to bring an extra supply with them, but that water can be filtered (ask us about our filtration systems) or recycled using reverse osmosis. But the benefits outweigh the costs of bringing that water with them. This is because Ultrasonics will remove all of the dust and dirt (and mud and whatever other contaminants they have to deal with) in just a few minutes without the need for toxic chemicals. This leaves the astronauts with more time doing science, and whatever else astronauts do, instead of scrubbing boots.

To Request Information, please submit the form on the right side of the page.

And don’t forget to leave a comment. We love to hear from you.

Come Visit Us at ISSA Interclean in Las Vegas!

From November 19 -21, we’ll be exhibiting at the ISSA Interclean North America show in Las Vegas, Nevada (Booth: 3805).

We’re really excited to be back in Vegas for this year’s show where we will be demonstrating the ultrasonic machine that started it all, “The Baby.”

If you would like to visit us in the exhibit hall, please contact Lisa Morantz at (215) 969-0266 (or send me a message using the form on the right).

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Schedule

-Tuesday, November 19: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
-Wednesday, November 20: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
-Thursday, November 21: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

6 Easy Ways to Get More Customers

No matter how successful your business is the one thing that it will always need are more customers. After all, serving your customers is why you’re in business, but could you and your sales team use a little help?

Below are six easy and low cost ways for you to get yourself in front of more people so that you can demonstrate your services. While some of these tactics may be focused on specific applications, feel free to change them to suit your needs.

Idea: Host an Open House for Insurance Agents and Adjusters.
Applications: Contents Cleaning and Fire Restoration.
Objectives: Build relationships with Agents and Adjusters. Introduce and educate them about the benefits of Ultrasonic Cleaning.
Tips: Show them how fast and effective your Ultrasonic Cleaning System and services are, and how your service will save them money. Offer to clean their personal items, like golf clubs, to show them how effective your equipment is, plus provide a memorable service!
Idea: Partner with Interior Decorators and Window Blind Sellers.
Application: Window Blind Cleaning.
Objectives: Create mutually beneficial partnerships. Expand your sales reach.
Tips: Offer these partners a Referral Fee or wholesale price for each blind cleaned. Not only will they make extra money, this will build good will with their customers by not “forcing” a new blind sale when all that is needed is a good cleaning. In fact, you should suggest that the designer or seller offer their customers a “Maintenance Plan.” Once these customers know there is an easy and affordable maintenance plan, they are more apt to purchase those more expensive “designer” type blinds. This will also give them an opportunity to periodically visit their customers where they could then sell new blinds for other areas in their home or business.
Idea: Clean Sports Equipment for Local Teams & Toys for Daycares.
Applications: Contents Restoration, Janitorial Cleaning and Medical Cleaning for Infection Control.
Objective: Diversify your services and customer base.
Tips: Your local sports teams, whether they’re professional, collegiate or league-based, are more concerned than ever about the health issues resulting from unclean equipment. Offer to do a free cleaning of a few items to demonstrate the effectiveness of Ultrasonic Cleaning for Infection Control (this could even include your local school’s gym equipment or toys in a nearby day care). Morantz provides our clients with results from independent laboratory tests for you to share with your customers during the sales process. And be sure to bring your ATP testing kit to quantify and support your results.
Idea: Clean Your Doctor’s Offices (Including Pediatricians and Dentists) & Senior Citizen Facilities.
Applications: Medical Cleaning & Infection Control.
Objective: Diversify your customer base.
Tips: Medical cleaning isn’t limited to large hospitals. Because of their small size, your local practitioners and senior centers often have problems maintaining sterile environments in their facilities. It’s not just the medical equipment; it’s the window blinds in the waiting and examination rooms, the computer keyboards at the nurse’s stations, the individual wheel chairs and even the toys in the pediatrician’s office. Morantz provides our clients with results from independent laboratory tests for you to share with your customers during the sales process. And don’t forget your ATP testing kit to quantify and support your results.
Idea: Partner with Your Local Computer Services Companies.
Applications: Electronics Cleaning.
Objectives: Create mutually beneficial partnerships. Expand your sales reach.
Tips: Computer Services companies provide maintenance and technical support for businesses both large and small. Aside from installing software and hardware, Ultrasonic Cleaning gives them a new, “Value-Added” service to sell. Show them the benefits of cleaning their customer’s computers and tools with Ultrasonics. Ultrasonic Cleaning keeps computers running smoothly, prevents them from overheating and starting fires, avoids the loss of valuable data, stops employees from getting sick through sharing infected tools and equipment (which also improves productivity) and more.
Idea: Sponsor Industry Events.
Applications: All.
Objectives: Diversify your customer base. Create mutually beneficial partnerships. Expand your sales reach.
Tips: Local business organizations are constantly looking for companies to sponsor events. They also like to showcase something that can attract attendees. In exchange for a nominal fee (or maybe just free food), you can bring your machine to their event and do a demonstration. And remember, the networking at these events can lead to more business.

All of these ideas help to achieve the following:

They put you in front of new customers. Even if they aren’t ready to use your services at the moment, they now know who you are and what you can do for them.
They get you in the door and help you to upsell additional services.
They help your customers make more money by expanding their services.
This will expand your credibility and enhance your professional reputation.

These ideas are just a small sample of the many ways you can get more clients simply by being creative. Morantz can provide you with more, proven ideas.

What creative things do you and your sales teams do to get more customers? Please share in the comments below. We’d love to hear about them.

Crawford Contractor Connection Conference & Tradeshow in San Antonio, TX

Morantz Ultrasonics will be exhibiting at the Crawford Contractor Connection Tradeshow this May 21st and 22nd.

If you would like to see a live demonstration of our equipment in coordination with our partners from iCAT, please visit with us at:

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX

Booths 448-450

Call for information on passes and show discounts: 215-969-0266

See you there!

Puro Tec builds Contents Cleaning Facility featuring the Morantz SM-200 Super System

We are proud to share the news that our client Puro Tec of Bensalem, PA has built a brand new, state-of-the-art Contents Cleaning Facility at their headquarters. For their very first job in their new facility, they used their Morantz SM-200 Super System (which consists of 4 machines; Pre-Wash, Ultrasonic Wash, Rinse and Drying stations) to clean a warehouse full of tens of thousands of gun parts and holsters damaged in a fire.

The pictures below show the job in progress, the layout for their Morantz Super System, and features a video of Patrick describing the job (sorry, the video is vertical because it was taken on an iPhone in Portrait mode. There is no problem with your player).

If you have any questions, please call us at 215.969.0266, or submit the form to the right.

Enjoy!

The SM-200 Super System Lids are bridges to each station. Baskets slide along through the process.

Unloading Contents into Stainless Steel Baskets for cleaning.

Prewashing is done with Heat, Chemicals and Bubbling Agitation.

Gun Holsters being cleaned in the SM-200

The Morantz Rinse Tank features a commercial sprayer for detailing, and an optional De-Ionization System (pictured here) that changes tap water into deionized water and recirculates repeatedly.

Drying contents with the Morantz Heated Blow Dry Gun.

The Drying Cabinet holds up to 12 baskets and dries contents in minutes. It also has an ozone function for deodorization.

The Morantz SM-200 Super System: Pre-Wash, Ultrasonic Wash, Rinse & Drying Stations.

Expert Response Restoration builds new Contents Cleaning Facility featuring the Morantz M-115 Ultrasonic Cleaner

We recently spent a great couple days of Contents Training with the Petruccis at their new Contents Cleaning facility. A fun time for one and all! Check out the pictures below.