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Bring the shine back to your diamond ring with these professional cleaning methods and advice.
Engagement and wedding rings are both valuable and emotionally significant, making it essential to care for them properly. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on cleaning your ring at home, featuring expert insights from jewelers and gemologists. This guide covers cleaning frequency, common mistakes to avoid, and tips to ensure your ring stays beautiful for years to come. Keep reading for all the details you need!
Can you clean a diamond ring at home?
Absolutely! You can easily clean a wedding or engagement ring at home. Start by filling a bowl with warm water and dish soap, then stir it together. Drop the ring into the soapy solution and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Afterward, gently scrub the ring with a soft-bristled toothbrush and rinse it under warm water.
Steps
How to Clean Your Wedding Ring at Home
Fill a small bowl with warm water and a dash of dish soap. Edward Lewand, a graduate gemologist and accredited appraiser, recommends using a mixture of warm water and Dawn dish soap as a gentle yet effective solution for cleaning most materials, including gold, platinum, and diamonds. Start by adding a small amount of dish soap to warm tap water in a bowl, then stir it together.
Soak your ring for 10-15 minutes. Place your ring in the soapy water and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. This soaking process helps loosen dirt, oils, and residue that can accumulate. According to master gemologist appraiser Kennon Young, ‘Dish soap is ideal for breaking down hand lotions and oils that tend to build up on diamond rings, making it one of the best options for cleaning jewelry.’
- The soak will also help eliminate any lingering odors.
Remove the ring and scrub it with a soft-bristled toothbrush. After soaking, take your ring out of the solution and gently scrub it with a soft-bristled baby or children’s toothbrush, as recommended by Young. Pay close attention to small crevices and the underside of the diamond where dirt may hide.
- Avoid using hard-bristled brushes or abrasive materials, as they can scratch the surface of your jewelry.
Rinse the ring under warm water. Wash off any remaining soap with warm tap water, but be sure to block the drain with a small strainer or bowl to prevent your ring from accidentally slipping down the drain.
Let your ring dry naturally. After rinsing off the soap, place your ring in a safe spot to air dry. That’s all there is to it! Your ring should now be gleaming and as good as new.
- If you're in a hurry, you can use a microfiber cloth to dry it instead.
- Avoid using a regular paper towel, as it might be too rough and could scratch your ring, especially if it’s made of gold, a softer metal.
Alternative Methods to Clean Your Ring
Commercial Jewelry Cleaner Nicole Wegman, a jewelry expert, advises cleaning your ring weekly with a commercial jewelry cleaner. “It’s safe for diamonds and gold,” she explains. “Soak your ring for a few minutes, scrub it with the small brush often included with the cleaner, and then rinse it under warm water.”
- You can find commercial jewelry cleaners in jewelry stores or purchase them online.
- Be sure to follow the instructions provided with the product and choose one appropriate for your ring’s material (platinum, gold, silver, etc.).
Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaners For jewelry with gemstones, such as diamond engagement or wedding rings, using an ultrasonic cleaner can be an effective method. These devices use high-frequency sound waves in combination with water or cleaning solutions to remove dirt and oil, explains gemologist Jerry R. Ehrenwald.
- However, avoid using this method if your ring has small gemstones or pave set diamonds, as the vibrations could loosen them.
- It’s best to reserve ultrasonic cleaners for deep cleaning rather than regular maintenance, and always follow the product instructions.
Windex Solution Jewelry appraiser Cory Schifter suggests cleaning diamond jewelry with a mixture of Windex and water. He notes that this solution is similar to many commercial jewelry cleaners, which makes it an effective option.
- Because this method is more aggressive than others, use it only occasionally for deep cleaning, not for regular maintenance.
- Avoid using this method if your ring contains other gemstones, as Windex is safe only for diamonds and may damage other stones.
Beer This method is not suitable for rings with diamonds or gemstones, but it may work well for solid gold wedding bands. Simply pour a little light beer onto a microfiber cloth and use it to gently polish away dirt, grime, and tarnish. Avoid using darker ales, as they can leave stains on your ring!
How Often to Clean Your Ring
Clean your ring once a week to once a month. While it’s not harmful to wait longer between cleanings, Wegman recommends weekly cleanings to keep your ring sparkling. “Lotion and natural oils from your skin can accumulate on your diamond, making it look cloudy and dull. Cleaning it more frequently helps it maintain its brilliance,” she says.
- If weekly cleaning feels like too much, Young suggests cleaning your ring at least once a month to avoid the build-up of oils or grime.
- “If you wait too long, dirt can accumulate underneath the stone, making it much harder to clean without professional help,” warns Young.
Mistakes to Avoid when Cleaning Your Ring
Don’t use harsh chemicals to clean your ring. Avoid household cleaners like bleach, chlorine, or acetone, as they are too strong and may damage your ring. For a safe and effective clean, stick with a mild solution of dish soap and warm water instead.
Don’t use toothpaste to clean your ring. “There’s an old myth about using toothpaste, but please avoid it,” advises Schifter. “Toothpaste can actually damage gold and leave a residue on diamonds. I'm not sure where this idea came from, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it,” he explains.
Don’t use harsh brushes or rough cloths on your ring. Opt for a lint-free or microfiber cloth to clean your ring to avoid scratches or leaving behind lint particles. This is especially important for rings with gold bands, as gold is a softer metal. “Even a paper towel can be abrasive enough to scratch gold jewelry,” Wegman points out. “To keep it looking its best, always use a soft cloth.”
- If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, Wegman suggests using an old T-shirt as a suitable alternative.
Take off your ring while cooking or cleaning. Cooking may expose your ring to oils and food residues, while cleaning could subject it to harsh chemicals. These substances can damage or dirty your ring, so it’s best to remove it when engaging in these activities.
Remove your ring while exercising. Wedding and engagement rings are delicate, and the impact from weights or workout equipment can cause scratches or bends. Additionally, the sweat and oils from your skin during exercise can dirty your ring. To maintain its shine and condition, it’s best to take it off and store it in a safe place while working out.
Store your ring in tarnish-free fabric when not in use. If you plan to take off your ring for a long period, store it “in tarnish-resistant fabric or a fabric-lined, airtight container. This will shield it from moisture and air that can cause tarnishing,” advises Ehrenwald.
- “Avoid keeping jewelry in damp areas like bathrooms, and make sure to store pieces separately to prevent corrosion from contact with other materials,” Ehrenwald adds.
Have your ring professionally serviced regularly. “The most important piece of advice for maintaining your diamond ring is to take it to a trusted jeweler every six months for a full service and cleaning, just like you would take a car in for regular maintenance,” says Schifter. “This way, you can make sure the prongs are secure, and the ring will be cleaned inside and out,” he adds.
- “I recommend every six months, but depending on your usage and how rough you are with your ring, you might need to do it sooner or later,” Schifter notes.
EXPERT ADVICE
Kennon Young
Master Gemologist Appraiser
Master Gemologist Appraiser
If you see scratches on a gold ring, visit a jeweler. While scratches on gold can be buffed out, it’s not something you can handle on your own. Even deep scratches can be repaired with laser welders, which fill in the scratches. The ring is then smoothed and polished to restore its flawless appearance.
Wedding Ring Care Questions
Is it safe to soak a wedding ring in vinegar? No, using vinegar to clean your wedding or engagement ring is not recommended. According to Lewand, while vinegar may be suitable for tougher metals like stainless steel, it's not safe for gold or platinum rings. For these precious metals, a milder cleaning solution like water mixed with dish soap is the best choice.
Can baking soda be used to clean a wedding ring? “Baking soda is not ideal for cleaning fine jewelry,” says Wegman. Its abrasiveness can be too harsh on delicate metals, especially gold. To clean your ring, it’s safer to use a gentle dish soap and water solution or a commercial jewelry cleaner instead.
