How To Clean Rings

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Learn how to create an easy-yet-effective DIY ring cleaning kit from the experts at David Alan jewelry. All you need are a few household items and some extra time to let your rings soak. We’ll lead you step by step through our DIY process for sparkling stones. Use our DIY kit to clean your diamond wedding ring, your family heirloom, and everything in between!

Supplies To Make Your Own DIY Ring Cleaning Kit

Creating your own DIY ring cleaning kit is easy as gathering a few household items. Here’s a list of what you’ll need to create this simple-yet-effective cleaning kit:

  • A small to medium sized bowl, depending on how many rings you’ll be cleaning
  • Warm water with dish soap (preferably fragrance-free)
  • Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or non-acetone nail polish remover
  • A toothbrush or nail brush with firm bristles
  • Paper towels

Step-By-Step Guide On How To Clean Your Rings At Home

Here’s a simple and easy guide to safely cleaning your rings at home:

  • Prepare your cleaning solution.
    •
        1. Fill your bowl with enough warm water to fully submerge your rings.
        2. Add a small amount of dish soap to the water. The water should be sudsy, but not overflowing with soapy bubbles.
        3. Add one cap full of rubbing alcohol or non-acetone nail polish remover to the soapy water.
  • Let your rings soak.
    •
        1. Place your rings gently into the bowl. Be sure to spread your rings out so that they don’t touch each other.
        2. Let your rings soak overnight. If you’re short on time, let them soak for at least 30 minutes.
  • Get scrubbing!
    •
        1. After letting your rings soak, take one ring out of the water at a time to scrub clean with your toothbrush or nail brush. Dunk the bristles into the water solution before scrubbing.
        2. While scrubbing, focus on the ring’s open areas where dust, dirt, and lotion easily accumulate. The back and sides of the ring  accumulate debris more easily, so pay special attention to these areas. Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to scrub well! The nylon bristles of your brush can’t scratch your rings.
  • Rinse and Shake!
    •
      1. Once you’re finished scrubbing, rinse your rings under the tap, ensuring you rinse the solution  off. Pro tip: Close your drain before rinsing to avoid losing any rings!
      2. After rinsing, wrap each ring in a paper towel to dry. Then, shake each wrapped ring to get rid of any excess water. Repeat this step again to ensure there's no excess water on or inside of your rings.
  • Let your freshly cleaned rings shine!
    •
      1. Carefully unwrap each ring from the paper towel to unveil your fresh sparkling beauties!

    How Often Should I Clean My Rings?

    How often you should clean your rings depends on how often you wear them, and which stone your ring bears. For example, diamonds can withstand more wear-and-tear than opals. You may want to clean your opal rings gently and less often than you clean your diamond rings.

    A ring that you wear each day, like your engagement ring, should be cleaned using this at-home method every month. Schedule professional cleaning once every six months to keep your ring in top sparkling condition.

    Don’t Use This When Cleaning Your Rings

    If you’re planning on cleaning Emeralds, Pearls, Coral, Turquoise, Enamel, Plastic, Glued items, or any other soft materials with this DIY cleaning kit, skip the rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover! These chemicals may harm soft precious stones and can be cleaned with gentle soap and water.

    Here’s a few more substances you should never use to clean your rings:

    • Ammonia: Ammonia is dangerous to handle and destroys softer jewels like pearls or opals. It’s best to stay away from this harsh chemical when cleaning jewelry!
    • Vodka: Vodka is for cocktails, not for dunking your precious stones in. Steer clear of this home remedy!
    • Boiling Water: The only stone that could withstand this treatment is a diamond, but it’s not necessary.  It's more likely to do more harm than good to your rings. Skip the stove!

    Exercise Caution With Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaners

    While ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are convenient for cleaning your rings at home, you have to know which stones this tool can't clean. Harder, heartier stones like diamonds or rubies are typically safe in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. An ultrasonic cleaner can destroy pearls, opals, and other porous gems though. Do your research to figure out if an ultrasonic cleaner will destroy your rings.

    Schedule A Professional Clean With David Alan, today!

    To keep your rings looking their best, you should schedule professional cleans every six months. David Alan Jewelry provides a thorough and expert cleaning experience that keeps your stones gleaming for months. Plus, you can book an appointment online with the click of a button. Experience sparkling stones with David Alan, today!

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