Sparkling Clean: How to Clean Your Wedding Ring

Most people wear their wedding rings every day. It’s a beautiful symbol of commitment to your loved one, so you always want to keep it close to you. Your ring can accumulate dirt and lose its luster quickly with your daily activities. You can clean your wedding at home with just a few simple steps, and soon, it will be sparkling clean and back to its original shine.

How Often Do You Need to Clean Your Ring?

Daily activities can make your wedding ring dirty, with cosmetic products like lotion and makeup being the most common culprits. They form a thin film over your ring, making it look dull.

Depending on what you do daily and how much cosmetics you use, you can clean your ring every week or every other week. Set some time on the weekends to clean your ring and other important jewelry to maintain their shine.

You can also take your ring to the jeweler once a year for general maintenance. Have it professionally cleaned and checked to see if the settings are holding up.

How to Clean Your Wedding Ring 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning your wedding ring at home:

1. Examine Your Ring

If your wedding ring has diamonds, carefully examine it before cleaning it. Check if the setting is still tight and if any stones are coming loose. If you think some gems may come loose, go to a professional to have it cleaned and repaired. If your ring has softer gemstones, consider going to a jeweler to have it cleaned, as you might accidentally damage them.

2. Prepare Cleaning Materials

If your ring is good to go, start preparing your cleaning materials. Here’s what you need to prepare:

• Warm water
• Dishwashing soap
• Soft-bristled toothbrush
• A cup of glass cleaner, like Windex
• A small bowl
• A soft cloth

3. Give Your Ring a Soak

Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water in a small bowl. Soak your wedding ring in the mix for 20 to 40 minutes. This soak will soften all dirt and debris trapped in the crevices of your ring.

5. Brush The Ring

After soaking in soapy water, take your ring and dip it in the cup of glass cleaner. Then, gently brush off any dirt from your ring with a soft toothbrush. If your ring has diamonds, gently brush the edges of the gems to remove any stuck dirt. 

6. Rinse Carefully

Carefully wash your ring under running water until you have rinsed it off completely. Before you do this, plug your drain first. If you accidentally drop the ring, you won’t lose it down your pipes.

7. Dry Your Ring

Take a soft cloth like one made with cotton or microfiber and gently dry your wedding ring. You can also use a hair dryer to dry your ring.

Things to Remember

Your wedding ring requires gentle care. You want to remove all unwanted dirt and debris without damaging your ring, especially if it has gemstones. When brushing your ring, take extra care to be thorough but gentle.

You should also avoid using harsh chemicals on your ring. Opt for ammonia-based glass cleaners instead of chlorine-based ones. Avoid using other chemicals like bleach and acetone, which can damage your ring’s precious metals.

Finally, don’t do ultrasonic cleaning on your own. The viral videos do look enticing. Dipping your ring into a blue liquid and seeing all the dirt dissipate is a satisfying sight, and it doesn’t help that you can buy the machine in shops easily. 

However, you need a jeweler’s expertise since the vibrations from the machine can dislodge gemstones in your ring. Sometimes, the stone is already loose, and dirt is the only thing keeping it in place. Once the device removes all dirt, gemstones can come loose. A jeweler can assess the state of your ring and decide if it can be cleaned with the ultrasonic cleaner.

Can I Use the Same Method for My Engagement Ring?

Yes! You can use the same cleaning method but must check your ring more thoroughly. Engagement rings usually have a larger stone, so check if it is secure and if the claws are properly placed before cleaning.

Tips for Keeping Your Wedding Ring Clean

It’s easy to clean your wedding ring at home, but you can take extra steps to keep it clean and damage-free. This way, you can extend its longevity and keep it intact for as long as possible. Here are some tips for keeping your ring clean:

• Take your ring off when putting on makeup.
• Take your ring off when applying body lotion or skincare products.
• Don’t wear your ring when cooking.
• Remove your ring before doing rough work, like gardening, car maintenance, woodwork, etc.
• Keep your ring safe in proper storage when not in use.
• If you don’t want to leave your ring at home but have to do rough work, consider wearing it on a chain as a necklace instead.
• Consider getting a backup ring for daily use while keeping the real one safe at home.
• Get ring insurance.

Make Your Ring Shine Again

You can bring back your ring’s original shine with just a few simple steps. Remember to be gentle and use non-abrasive products to clean your wedding ring. With extra care, you can keep your ring beautiful and well-maintained for years to come.