Cleaning your iontophoresis electrodes
Read our tips on how to prolong the lifespan of your iontophoresis electrodes
With iontophoresis, some patina sets in after a few treatments. You have to imagine that you are standing with your hands and feet in water, like in a small bathtub. It goes without saying that this has to be cleaned afterwards. This applies above all to the treatment tubs, but also to the mesh pads/towels and also the electrodes.
We recommend metal electrodes: 15 years warranty on our stainless steel electrodes and 10 years on aluminum electrodes.
For perfect hygiene, disinfection and cleanliness: our metal electrodes withstand boiling water. This is not the case with every material.
First: In principle, you only have to clean the electrodes when the current of the iontophoresis unit can no longer reach the desired set strength, or - according to taste - for optical (hygienic) reasons.
Stainless steel electrodes
Our high quality stainless steel is very easy to clean. You know this from the kitchen.
Procedure: A commercial stainless steel cleaner on a soft cloth or kitchen tissue, and the electrodes shine like on the first day. The cleaning frequency is particularly low here. Some users use the steel electrodes for years before even cleaning.
Lime deposits:
Can be softened or dissolved by soaking the electrodes in vinegar for 30 minutes. Then remove carefully with a soft cloth. If there are still residues of lime on the plates: Simply try polishing them gently with a soft cloth.
Aluminum electrodes
With aluminum, more care and caution must be exercised. This is also familiar from the kitchen: it likes to scratch. Scratches are perfect hiding places for dirt, and they then clog up quickly. The flow of electricity will eventually be clouded as a result.
The cleaning frequency is thus incomparably higher in contrast to stainless steel.
Procedure:
Patina:
Take a non-abrasive cleaner on a soft cloth or kitchen roll (e.g. alcohol).
Lime deposits:
Baking soda is made into a pasty mass by adding water. Polish the aluminum with a soft, wet cloth.
The paste should no longer contain any grains, so soak baking soda until everything is completely dissolved, or use fine powdered Natron. To loosen larger deposits, the electrodes can be soaked in baking soda water (one tablespoon per litre) for 30 minutes.
If handled correctly and carefully, the aluminum electrodes should also survive the iontophoresis device.
Silicone electrodes
Cleaning is best after each treatment. Clean with alcohol on soft cloth or kitchen roll. Calcium deposits can be removed by soaking the electrodes overnight in vinegar.
The following never works:
Scouring milk - as the name suggests - scrubs countless small scratches into the material of aluminum. These quickly become clogged with lime.
Citric acid / Concentrated Vinegar essence from the package. Customers have reported to us that this was not optimal. Perhaps because of too high acid concentration, materials like aluminum can be attacked. Therefore, also here as with the acetic acid set to about 5%.