As Marilyn Monroe once sang, “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” — and what better way to cherish your best friend than to take good care of them, right?
If you’ve been wanting to bring back the sparkle to your trusty diamonds that lost their shine from exposure to dirt and dust over time, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to clean diamond rings at home without ruining them.
Should you clean diamond rings?
Yes, you should clean your diamond rings regularly to avoid accumulated dirt and grime. Diamonds tend to lose their shine over the years because of the gathered dust and grease on your ring’s stones.
💡 Take Note: How often you clean your diamond ring depends on your preference and can vary from person to person.
We recommend that you clean diamond rings lightly once a week, especially if they’re constantly exposed to debris. Otherwise, do so every two weeks.
Once you settle into a routine of cleaning your jewelry, you will see a significant difference in how it sparkles.
For a deeper clean, it’s worth taking your ring to a jeweler every two years.
Can you clean your engagement ring too much?
There’s no such thing as cleaning your engagement ring too much. You will not damage your engagement ring by cleaning it often if you do it the right way. It all comes down to the materials and methods you use.
However, if you clean your rings with harmful chemicals, you risk ruining them. Abrasive products like baking soda and toothpaste can scratch the metal. Chlorine bleach will damage the metal alloys in the gold band of your diamond ring.
Let’s look at a few safe and easy ways to help you clean your diamond rings by yourself.
How to Clean Diamond Rings
There are plenty of sources with advice and methods for cleaning diamond rings, but not all of them are recommended by jewelry experts. Thankfully, we’re highlighting expert-backed methods you can use at home to clean your diamond rings.
💡 Keep in Mind: While cleaning the gemstone, you should also consider how to clean the (gold) metal band. It’s no fun if you have a shiny stone with a ruined band.
Dishwashing Soap and Warm Water
This is the quickest and best way to clean your diamond ring at home. Use very warm water, which can easily melt the buildup. However, ensure it’s not too hot, as boiling water can ruin your diamond.
Avoid any dishwashing soap with the label “moisturizing” as it will add an oily shimmer to your diamond.
Materials Needed
- 1-2 drops of dishwashing soap
- A soft-bristled toothbrush
- Two small bowls
- Warm water
Instructions
- Fill two small bowls with warm water.
- Mix one or two drops of dishwashing soap into one bowl of warm water. Make sure to use a brand with mild or natural ingredients. Some brands contain harsh chemicals which may scratch or dull your jewelry.
- Rub your mixture into the ring with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If your ring has been over-exposed to debris, soak it in the mixture first for about 30 minutes.
- Dip the ring into the soap-less bowl to rinse.
- Pat your ring dry with a soft cotton cloth or leave it to air-dry.
💡 Take Care: Avoid cleaning your diamond rings with dishwasher detergent as it’s harsh and may damage your jewelry.
Windex and Hydrogen Peroxide
Windex and peroxide are both safe and exceptional cleaning agents you can get from your kitchen cabinet or the grocery store. Peroxide has the extra benefit of being a disinfectant.
Materials Needed
- Glass cleaning solution (we chose Windex)
- Warm water
- Hydrogen peroxide
- A bowl
- Soft cotton cloth
Instructions
- Mix equal parts of Windex and peroxide in a bowl.
- Soak your ring in the mixture for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water.
- Pat your rings dry with a soft cotton cloth.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a mildly acidic and excellent cleanser for your diamond jewelry. However, you should not use it to clean soft stones and porous jewelry like pearls. Vinegar is known to dissolve genuine pearls.
Materials Needed
- ½ cup – 1 cup of vinegar
- A bowl
- Warm water
- Soft cotton cloth
Instructions
- Put your rings in a bowl of warm water for about 20 minutes.
- Empty the bowl and pour in ½ cup to 1 cup of plain vinegar.
- Soak your rings in vinegar for about five minutes.
- Remove the rings and rinse them in cold water.
- Dry the rings with a soft cotton cloth.
💡 Take Care: Avoid using paper towels to dry your jewelry as they can scratch the metal. Use soft cotton cloth instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleaning diamond rings is a weighty assignment – diamonds are precious! So you have more questions, we have the answers.
Do real diamonds get cloudy?
Yes, real diamonds get cloudy. Intrinsically, some diamonds will present with inclusions or imperfections like twinning wisps.
Twinning wisps are caused by external pressure and stress and are characterized by wispy streaks or needle-like crystals running through the stone, which appear as cloudy spots.
Sometimes real diamonds will get cloudy simply because they are dirty. When a diamond is covered in grease and grime, it can’t reflect light, so it won’t sparkle.
You’ve probably heard that diamonds aren’t the real deal if they get cloudy. Well, that’s not entirely true.
But if you want to double-check the legitimacy of your ring, read our full article on how to tell if diamonds are real.
How do jewelers clean diamond rings?
Professional jewelers clean diamond rings using a special machine called an ultrasonic cleaner.
These devices are designed and work differently, but typically the jeweler places the diamond rings in a small tank filled with a cleaning solution (usually water and soap). Then they set the cleaner to the required temperature and running time.
The ultrasonic cleaner creates high-frequency ultrasound waves, the scrubbing force that removes the grime and debris from the jewelry.
The cleaner can run for 1 minute to 20 minutes, depending on how dirty the diamond rings are. The operating temperature for most cleaners is between 130° F (54.4° C) and 180° F (82.2° C).
When the running time elapses, the jeweler waits for about 10 minutes. This is so the debris can sink to the bottom and the hot water can cool.
Finally, they remove the diamond rings, use a soft brush to remove any remaining debris, and then run them under cold water before drying them with a soft cloth.
Can I use vinegar to clean my diamond ring?
Yes, you can. After soaking your diamond ring in warm water for about 20 minutes, soak it in about a cup of vinegar for five minutes. Then rinse it in cold water and dry with a soft cotton cloth.
What is the best homemade jewelry cleaner?
A cleaning mixture of water and dishwashing soap works wonders for your jewelry. The great thing is the items are accessible and affordable. .
Can a toothbrush scratch a diamond?
It depends on the kind of toothbrush you’re using and the amount of pressure you’re applying. A soft-bristled toothbrush won’t scratch a diamond, but harder bristles might.
Care Tips for Your Diamond Ring
Without proper care, your diamond ring will scratch and lose its sparkle. You don’t want that to happen. Here are some helpful tips to help you care for your diamond ring properly.
- Use simple green degreasers, the green indicates that they are safe to use on jewelry.
- Avoid wearing your rings to bed as the prongs could bend while they snag on your beddings.
- Avoid showering or applying body lotion with your ring on. The body wash and cosmetics will cause grimy buildup and dull your ring.
- If you’re going to be getting handsy with kitchen ingredients, wear gloves or take your ring off to prevent germs, bacteria, and grime.
- Take your ring to a jeweler every two years for thorough cleaning.
Keep Your Diamond Ring Sparkling
Taking care of your ring doesn’t have to be arduous. If you know how to clean gemstones, then you can easily clean your diamond rings. With the steps and methods we’ve shared, you’ll never have to face a grimy diamond ring again.
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