If your wedding band is looking dull or dirty, bring it back to life with a simple cleaning. Find out how as we go over everything you need to know about cleaning a wedding ring. We’ll share the best at-home cleaning method, when you should have your ring professionally cleaned, and how not to clean your ring if you want to avoid accidentally damaging it.
How to Clean Your Wedding Band At Home
The best way to clean your wedding band at home is with this simple soap and water method. To clean your ring, you’ll need a small bowl, gentle dish soap,
a very soft toothbrush, and a soft cloth. Use a soap with no moisturizing agents, since those will leave a film behind and make your ring look dull. Use a new toothbrush to avoid exposing your ring to remnants of toothpaste, which can damage fine jewelry.
Step 1: Soak Your Ring
First, you want to loosen up any dirt or grime on your ring by soaking it. Make a cleaning solution by filling a small bowl with warm water, adding a dime-sized amount of dishwashing soap, and mixing. Place your ring in the soapy water and let it soak for around 30 minutes.
Step 2: Gently Brush Your Ring
Now it’s time to clean your ring by gently brushing it. Take your ring out of the cleaning solution and gently brush it with a soft bristle toothbrush.
Step 3: Rinse Your Ring
Next, rinse your ring in warm water. We recommend filling a second dish with warm water, then rinsing your ring in the dish. You can also rinse your ring under a running tap, but be absolutely sure you plug your drain before doing so.
Step 4: Dry Your Ring
Finally, dry your ring. You can set your ring in a safe place and allow it to air dry, or you can dry it with a soft cloth. Use a lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber eyeglass cleaning cloth. Don’t use paper towels to dry your ring, as they can be abrasive enough to scratch fine jewelry.
If needed, repeat these steps. To keep your ring looking its best, use this cleaning method once a week.
When to Have Your Wedding Band Professionally Cleaned
Over time, things like lotion, oil, and dust can build up on your ring, dulling its shine and sticking in small crevices. That’s why jewelers recommend occasionally taking wedding rings in for a professional cleaning.
A professional jeweler has tools that can deep clean and perfectly polish your ring, making it look brand new again. When cleaning a ring, jewelers also check to make sure it is structurally sound. This helps you avoid loose settings that result in lost gemstones.
But how often should you have your ring professionally cleaned? For simple metal designs, we recommend having your ring cleaned once a year. For more intricate gemstones or diamond rings, we suggest getting a professional cleaning every six months.
How Not to Clean Your Wedding Band At Home
Many common household cleaners are far too harsh for fine jewelry. If you don’t want to accidentally damage your jewelry, you should avoid certain cleaning agents and methods.
In general, avoid using any harsh chemicals on fine jewelry. Numerous household cleaners (including natural cleaners) contain chemicals that can damage jewelry, so we suggest avoiding them entirely. In particular, you want to avoid anything containing bleach, chlorine, or acetone, all of which can break down precious metals.
Another thing to avoid is abrasive cleaners, which can easily scratch gold jewelry and many softer gemstones. Some examples of abrasive products to avoid include toothpaste, baking soda, and powdered cleaners.
Lastly, we suggest that you avoid using at-home ultrasonic cleaners to clean your jewelry. Ultrasonic cleaners are far too harsh for many precious materials, especially gemstones that are soft, porous, heat sensitive, or treated.
Additionally, while they’re commonly advertised as a good way to clean diamond jewelry at home, ultrasonic cleaners can easily damage diamond jewelry by loosening settings. This puts you at risk of losing stones and needing to repair your jewelry.
We encourage you to get a professional cleaning instead if you ever feel the urge to use harsh cleaners on a piece of jewelry. Remember that chemicals, abrasive materials, and at-home ultrasonic cleaners can all do far more harm than good. If you feel your jewelry needs a deep cleaning, take it to a jeweler who can deep clean it safely.
Final Thoughts on Cleaning Wedding Rings
Have questions about cleaning your wedding band, your engagement ring, or another piece of fine jewelry? Get in touch with a Bridal Rings jeweler by visiting our Los Angeles showroom or by sending us a message.