Introducing the New Ultrapod: A Better Entry Point Into Ultrasonic Cleaning — and Why We're Being Transparent About What It Costs

We've been thinking hard about something a lot of brands don't want to talk about: the gap between what something costs to make and what you pay for it.

We're going to close that gap — at least in terms of honesty.

This post is about our new Ultrapod, the simplest, most accessible product we've ever made. But it's also about what you're actually buying, what goes into the price, and why we think that transparency is the only way to build a brand worth trusting long-term.

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What Is the Ultrapod?

The Ultrapod is our new entry-level ultrasonic dental cleaner — and the honest answer to a question we kept asking ourselves: what's the best possible product we can make at the most honest price we can offer?

Both the Ultrapod and the Ultrapod Pro are built from the same materials - wood and steel. With the same materials comes the same commitment to plastic-free construction. The only major difference between them is one thing: modularity.

The Ultrapod Pro is designed to be reconfigured. You can swap bases, have multiple cases, and build a setup that evolves with your needs. That flexibility adds real manufacturing complexity — more components, tighter tolerances, more assembly steps — and it's priced accordingly.

The Ultrapod is a single, unified piece. It does one thing — delivers precise ultrasonic cleaning at the optimal frequency for dental hardware — and it does it in a form that's simpler to produce, easier to price fairly, and just as good at the actual job.

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What Does It Actually Cost to Make?

Let's talk numbers. This isn't something brands typically do, but we think you should know.

Both products are manufactured in China, which is where the vast majority of ultrasonic hardware in the world is made — including the units you'd find behind the counter at a dental office. Our supplier relationships are long-term and direct; we're not going through intermediaries.

Before we get into the tables, it helps to understand why our costs are higher than a typical electronics-adjacent product: we don't use plastic, and we manufacture in small sustainable batches that allow us to always improve. No injection-molded housing. No plastic chassis underneath a wood veneer. Every unit is built around real hardwood, which takes longer to source, machine, and finish. Small-batch manufacturing means we don't get the volume discounts that flatten costs for mass-market brands. We think the tradeoff is worth it. But it's the honest reason the numbers look the way they do.

Ultrapod (Hardwood, Non-Modular) — $89.99

At $89.99, our margin can range from thin to healthy depending almost entirely on how you found us. A customer who came through organic search or word of mouth is a good margin order. A customer acquired through paid social at peak CPM costs us nearly as much as we make on the unit — which is exactly why the Ultraboost subscription is core to the model, not an upsell afterthought.

Ultrapod Pro (Hardwood, Modular) — from $119.99

The Pro uses the same hardwood and the same cleaning engine. The cost difference comes down entirely to modularity. A modular design requires more individual components, tighter tolerances between parts, and more assembly steps per unit. For a small-batch, plastic-free manufacturer, that complexity compounds quickly.

The Pro starts at $119.99. The walnut and steel configuration — which are more expensive to make — is $159.99. That step-up reflects additional material cost and finishing complexity, not a marketing tier.

We're not apologizing for making money. We're just showing you that the number isn't obscene — and that when you buy from us, a meaningful portion of what you spend goes back into making the product better.

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The Part That Actually Makes It Worth It: Ultraboost

The Ultrapod is hardware, and it's built to last. The "downside" of building too well is that we don't get repeat business. Like any ultrasonic cleaner, water alone does most of the heavy lifting. But if you want a genuinely clinical-grade clean for your aligners, retainers, night guards, jewelry and dental appliances — Ultraboost adds that extra molecular kick.

Ultraboost is our enzyme-based cleaning powder. Formulated to work in tandem with Ultrasonic frequency, it breaks down biofilm, protein deposits, and the stuff that plain water misses. One pinch takes gives you all the extra cleaning you need. The results are immediately obvious.

A single Ultraboost pouch runs about $0.2/day on a subscription — and the thing you're cleaning probably cost you a few hundred dollars from your orthodontist.

Here's the honest version of the math:

Ultrapod (one-time): $89.99 Ultraboost subscription (yearly): ~$64 - Year one total: ~$154 Year two and beyond: ~$64/year

For context: a single dental cleaning appointment in the US averages $150–$300. Professional ultrasonic cleaning of your appliances, if billed separately, runs $50–$100 per visit. The Idyll system pays for itself within a few months if it meaningfully extends the lifespan and cleanliness of your dental hardware — which, based on what our customers tell us, it does.

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Why We're Telling You All This

Honestly? Because we got tired of the alternative.

Most DTC brands operate in a fog of vague premium positioning and inflated "compare at" prices. The product arrives in a beautiful box with a card that says something like crafted with intention and you have no idea whether you paid a fair price or got played.

We'd rather earn your trust by being straight with you.

The Ultrapod is a well-made product at a fair price. The margins let us operate a real business and keep improving. The consumable model means your upfront cost is low and your ongoing investment is modest — and you can cancel anytime, no hoops.

We're not a subscription trap. We're not inflating MSRP to fake a discount. We're not hiding the fact that we currently manufacture in China like every other ultrasonic brand at any price point.

We're just trying to make the best cleaning hardware we can, tell you the truth about it, and earn a customer who comes back because the product is worth it — not because they forgot to cancel.

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Who the Ultrapod Is For

The Ultrapod is for you if:

• You wear aligners, retainers, a night guard, jewelry or any removable dental appliance
• You want a cleaner that works without the faff of effervescent tablets or brushing
• You'd rather spend $89.99 once than $15/month on single-use cleaning tablets that leave residue
• You care about quality and the global costs of your consumption 
• You want something that looks good on your bathroom counter and doesn't feel like a cheap medical device

The Ultrapod Pro is for you if you want the modular system with swappable cases, easier cleaning and filling and want a more customizable setup. Both products use the same cleaning guts. The difference is form factor.

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Available Now

The Ultrapod pro is available now on our website and through Amazon. If you want to try it paired with Ultraboost, the Starter Kit is the move — it bundles everything you need to get started and saves you on the first order. If you want a better price, plastic free cleaner and don't care about the modularity, order the new Ultrapod.

We stand behind it with a two-year warranty, lifetime repairability and a 30-day return window. No questions asked.

If you have questions about the product, the materials, or honestly anything in this post — reach out. I read everything.

— Sebastien

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Questions about Ultraboost ingredients, the ceramic sourcing, or our manufacturing process? Email us at hello@idyllproducts.com or find us on Instagram.