Tips to Clean Your Engagement and Wedding Ring at Home
Your wedding ring and jewelry are something you will cherish forever and maybe even pass down to other generations, this is why you should take care of your wedding ring and jewelry.
You can always take your bridal jewelry to the jeweler to clean it for you, but you can also do it yourself at home. Since all eyes will be on you and your ring, then you want your ring to be as sparkling as possible.
Keeping your engagement and wedding rings sparkly and clean is a very easy and simple task.
Also check: A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Ring for an Engagement
Washing them with soap and water is not always enough, though. So here are some easy steps you can take to clean your ring safely and what to avoid at all costs:
Determine The Dirt
Determine what kind of gunk has gotten on your ring:
Oil and Dirt:
If you're very active outdoors or in the kitchen and there's a hard compacted layer of oil or dirt, it's best to get it cleaned at the jewelers using professional-grade products that will restore the brilliance of the stone safely.
Cosmetics:
If your ring has been dirtied by common cosmetics, for example, hairspray, lotion, makeup, or perfume, a simple at-home cleaning should be sufficient. "The best way to clean your ring is to make a solution with warm water (almost hot) and dishwashing soap. Soak your ring for about 20 to 40 minutes, gently brush the stone with a very soft toothbrush, and then rinse under warm running water. If needed, repeat."
What to Avoid
What to Never Use:
As for substances that you should never use to clean your ring, stay away from any household cleaners such as bleach, chlorine, and acetone, advises Mann. "These harsh chemicals can break down some of the base metals in your ring. Also never use any kind of abrasive products such as toothpaste, baking soda, or any powdered cleaners, which can easily scratch metals, particularly gold."
Avoid Machines:
Avoid at-home ultrasonic jewelry cleaning machines, especially if your ring features pavé set stones (the word pavé comes from the French word for paved), says Mann. "If one of the prongs is weakened or if there's the slightest error in workmanship, the vibrations from an ultrasonic machine can dislodge a stone," he warns. "Your safest bet for ultrasonic cleaning is to take it to the jeweler, where professionals can test the security of the settings first, or fix it should anything come loose."
What to Use
Baking Soda: Take a small amount of baking soda and add it to some water to form a paste. Rub the paste on your ring for a couple of minutes, wash with water, and dry.
Soap Detergent: Use a mild dishwashing detergent and warm water to wash your ring; you can even let your ring soak in it overnight.
Ammonia Cleaning: Add a small amount of ammonia to warm water, and wash your ring in it.
Toothpaste: Put some toothpaste on a toothbrush and brush your ring clean.
