Engagement Ring Care: How to Clean Your Rings at Home

Engagement Ring Care: How to Clean Your Rings at Home

Congratulations - you have a gorgeous ring on your finger. Let's keep it gorgeous, shall we? This engagement ring care guide shares what you need for bling.

Nothing beats the excitement of getting engaged, planning a wedding, and finally, marrying your better half.

So every time you glance down at your rings, they should look just as magical as the first day you saw them.

But stop before you start scrubbing away at your rings. Engagement ring care is not the same as deep cleaning your bathroom.   

In fact, the first tip you need to know is to immediately remove your engagement rings before any heavy duty cleaning.

But what makes cleaning your rings so different?

Let’s find out by walking step-by-step through the process of your cleaning engagement rings.

Tip #1: Avoid Harsh Chemicals

Your ring bands and gemstones can quickly grow dull if you're not careful.

Avoid cleaning your rings with harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaning solutions, as these will only erode and destroy your rings’ surfaces.

Along with properly storing your engagement rings, avoid cleaning them with these substances at all costs:

• Nail polish remover and other acetone-based solutions
• Bleach
• Chlorine
• Baking powder
• Toothpaste
• Any abrasive cleaning powders
• Household cleaners

That's a lot to avoid, so what can you use for engagement ring care?

Tip #2: Soak your ring

To clean out the dirt hiding in the crevices of your ring, the best thing you can do is prepare a simple soak.

Just follow these quick steps:

• Grab a bowl and fill it with warm to medium-hot water.
• Add a couple drops of dishwashing detergent to your water.
• Soak your ring for 5 to 10 minutes. If your ring is particularly dirty, you can soak for up to 40 minutes.
• When you're finished soaking, rinse your rings for a few seconds in regular hot water and dry off with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. 

If there is any leftover dirt, you can gently use a soft toothbrush to get the gunk out. But be gentle!

Tip #3: Steam The Dirt Away

Gently cleaning and soaking are the most reliable cleaning methods for engagement ring care.

But for really stubborn dirt and grime, you can steam your ring as well.

Remember, your rings are fragile, so use this method with utmost care, as you are dealing with high-pressure steam.

You can purchase your own electric water steamers or create steam at home by boiling a pot of water and placing a metal strainer on top. 

Tip #4: ultrasonic engagement ring care

If the first three tips don't do the trick, you can always try an ultrasonic cleaner.

This is for rings with extremely hardened, encrusted dirt.

Ultrasonic cleaners use special solutions and low-frequency sound waves to deep clean the nooks and crannies of your rings. However, engagement rings have been known to loosen or even lose their gemstones altogether.

That's why it's important to talk to your Jeweler before proceeding with any ultrasonic engagement ring care.

The best thing you can do is routinely and gently clean your rings every two weeks. 

Of course, make sure to get your ring periodically re-sized to help prevent loss and wear and tear over time. Never take off your ring in public and always be careful around any open drains and sidewalk grates. 

By taking great care of your engagement rings, they'll always look like the first time you put them on.