Good ultrasonic cleaner is a very handy device. The $70-150 on such device is very good investment and saves you a lot of brushing and scrubbing. For most specimens the 2-3 liter cleaners are the best. Lab devices are much more powerful and durable and most are equipped with heating and timer. Stainless-steel lab ultrasonic cleaners are way better then cheaper plastic cleaners. Basically, it shakes both liquid and mineral, speeding up the process of cleaning by shaking off debris from the mineral specimen. The ultrasonic cleaner is a handy device for cleaning more resistant coatings, clays and other mess. Better test the hardness of the mineral before you scratch the best crystal face! Ultrasonic Cleaner Steel dental picks (which we all hate) can be put to much better use removing more resistant crusts and stains from really hard minerals like quartz, garnets, beryl, tourmalines or topaz. Wooden toothpicks are fine for removing clay from tiny fissures in softer minerals. This requires some experience and many of these minerals must be properly conserved too! Picks Water soluble minerals like halite, chalcanthite, melanterite, langite, borax and others must be cleaned in alcohol or a concentrated solution of salt. In this case, further chemical cleaning is necessary to remove the iron stains. Hairy specimens (like some zeolites) can be soaked but of course brushing is out of question. Sometimes a detergent can help, especially with some clays. Particularly obstinant clays can be removed by soaking and drying repeated in several cycles. Some clays especially are very resistant: for these, using a good water gun is much better then long days of soaking and brushing.
Let the mineral soak for some time if the dirt or clay on it can't be removed. An old toothbrush is probably the most common tool used but if the texture of the mineral calls for it you can also use a scrubbers or a dish brush. Many specimens can be cleaned just by soaking in water for a while followed by a little work with a brush. (You can use dishwasher too - but at your own risk!) If that is still not enough, power tools, air scribes, sandblasters and chemicals can remove almost anything. When using water, some mechanical cleaning is often needed - common tools are toothbrushes, picks or even textile cleaning waterguns. Almost anything can be pre-washed in water, except of water soluble minerals and very fine hairy minerals. The first thing to try is just a good old fashioned wash. Quite typical example of post-fieldtrip work - lot of fun with water and old toothbrush.
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