How to clean rings at home: diamond, engagement and wedding rings

Step by step: how to clean rings at home

1. 1

   Identify the stone and metal

   Diamonds, sapphires and rubies in solid gold or platinum can take a soak and a brush. Emeralds, pearls, opals, turquoise and other soft or treated stones cannot, and neither can plated rings. If you are not sure, use the wipe method in the next section.

2. 2

   Check the prongs first

   Look at the setting under good light and gently tap the ring near your ear. A stone that clicks, moves or catches on fabric needs a jeweler before cleaning, because brushing can work a loose stone free. Run the ring over a sweater: snags often mean a bent prong.

3. 3

   Soak in warm soapy water

   Put a few drops of plain dish soap in a small bowl of warm water and drop the ring in for 20 to 30 minutes. The soak softens the lotion, soap and skin oil packed behind the stone, which is what makes a diamond look cloudy. Hot water is not needed.

4. 4

   Brush under and behind the stone

   Hold the ring firmly and brush with an extra-soft toothbrush, focusing on the underside of the stone and between the prongs, where light enters the diamond. Brush the inside of the band too. Dip the brush back in the soapy water as you go.

5. 5

   Lift stubborn buildup gently

   For gunk that will not brush out, soak another 10 minutes, then nudge it with a wooden toothpick. Never use a pin or metal tool, which can scratch metal and loosen prongs.

6. 6

   Rinse in a bowl, not over the drain

   Swish the ring in a bowl of clean warm water, or rinse it over a sink with the stopper closed. Soapy rings are slippery, and a ring down the drain is a plumber’s job.

7. 7

   Dry and buff

   Pat the ring dry with a lint-free cloth, then buff the metal lightly. Avoid paper towels and tissues, which can scratch soft gold and leave lint in the prongs. Let it air dry for a few minutes before you put it back on.

How to clean a ring by gemstone

Most rings can be cleaned with warm, soapy water; what changes is whether you soak, brush or only wipe. When a ring has more than one stone, clean it the way the most delicate stone needs.

GIA says diamonds can be cleaned safely with lint-free cloths, commercial jewelry cleaning solutions and household detergents, and advises against powdered abrasive cleansers, ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaners at home, since ultrasonic and steam cleaning can loosen stones in their settings. GIA’s emerald guide notes that most emeralds have filled fractures, so ultrasonic and steam cleaning are risky, and recommends warm, soapy water with gentle scrubbing. For pearls, GIA says never to use ultrasonic or steam cleaners and lists hair spray, perfume, cosmetics and even perspiration among the things that damage them.

Wedding bands and metals: gold, white gold, platinum and plated

Solid gold and platinum handle the soak-and-brush method; plated and white gold rings need care with the surface layer.

• Yellow and rose gold: soak, brush and buff with a gold polishing cloth. More in our gold jewelry guide.
• White gold: usually coated in rhodium for its bright white color. Jewelers Mutual recommends mild soap, lukewarm water, a soft cloth and taking it off for activities. It warns that bleach, ammonia and chlorine can damage the rhodium plating; have it replated when it wears. A yellowish tint on the palm side means it is due.
• Platinum: soak and brush; it develops a soft matte patina that a jeweler can polish back if you want the shine.
• Gold plated or vermeil: wipe only, no brushing or polishing. See how to clean gold plated jewelry.
• Tungsten, titanium and steel bands: warm soapy water and a soft brush; they are hard to scratch but can still collect grime in engraving.

How to keep a ring clean between cleanings

Take it off for messy jobs, and put it on last when you get ready. Most cloudiness comes from what you put on your hands.

• Put lotion, sunscreen, hair products and perfume on first, let them dry, then put the ring on.
• Remove rings for cleaning with bleach or other chemicals, for kneading dough, gardening, the gym and swimming in chlorine.
• Keep a ring dish by the sink rather than setting rings on the edge of the counter.
• Have a jeweler check prongs and clean the ring professionally once or twice a year; they inspect for loose stones before using an ultrasonic.

Mistakes to avoid

• Cleaning a ring with a loose stone and brushing it out of the setting.
• Rinsing over an open drain.
• Using toothpaste or baking soda, which scratch gold and wear plating.
• Running emerald, pearl or opal rings through an ultrasonic cleaner.
• Wearing rings while cleaning with bleach, which can damage the rhodium plating on white gold.
• Only cleaning the top of the stone, when the grime that dulls it is underneath.