Diamonds.
Rihanna wants you to shine bright like one. Paul Simon met a girl with ‘em—on the soles of her shoes. Lucy’s in the sky with them. And of course, Marilyn Monroe made it crystal clear that they rank as every girl’s true BFF.
The point? Everyone loves a fresh new sparkly diamond—especially when it’s attached to an impressive engagement ring. We all love to hold these brilliant, precious, and valuable gemstones up to just about any light source we can find.
Sunlight. Moonlight. Camera light. Fluorescent light. You name it; a newly engaged person has certainly utilized it to make their bling sparkle, sheen, and shine on and on and on…like a crazy diamond.
Unfortunately, diamonds don’t stay that lovely and awe-inspiring forever. No, diamonds need to be cleaned regularly to maintain their shine. Even when well-cared for, a once-bright diamond can quickly lose its luster, surrendering to dominating elements and circumstances like dirt, dust, and grime. And then there’s the wear and tear foisted on diamonds by all the gunky, oily, nasty product build-up from lotions, perfumes, hair product, and other consumer vanity products and projects.
The good news here? Most jewelers will perform a complimentary cleaning once you’ve purchased your diamond engagement ring from them. Oh, and most engagement ring warranties cover (and sometimes even require) semi-annual or annual cleanings. But what about those awkward yet important moments when you just need a quick spit-shine*? No worries. We’ve got some true pro tips on how to safely clean your beloved diamond ring—while staying safe at home.
(*No spit is actually required. Please do NOT spit on your rings. Ew.)
What You Need to Safely Clean a Diamond Ring
As we mentioned before, please do not spit on your ring. It’s ineffective, immature, and just plain…nasty. With just a few supplies you probably already have around your home, you can have your diamond engagement ring shining like new again—in near-record time. Here are a few things you need to properly and safely clean your beloved diamond ring at home:
- Bowl
- Warm water
- Dishwashing soap
- Soft toothbrush
- Soft cloth
How to Safely Clean Your Diamond Ring at Home
To safely clean your diamond ring at home, just follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Fill the bowl with warm (almost hot) water.
Step 2: Add dishwashing soap.
Step 3: Submerge your diamond ring in the soapy water and let it soak for a good 20–45 minutes, depending on just how dirty your ring is. We suggest either putting a sticky note on the bowl or placing it in a spot where it’s unlikely to be disturbed. After all, you don’t want a well-meaning family member dumping your soapy water (and your ring) right down the drain!
Step 4: After soaking, gently brush your diamond with the soft toothbrush.
Step 5: Rinse your ring under warm running water.
(Repeat steps 1–5 if needed.)
Step 6: Pat (don’t rub) your ring dry with a soft cloth.
Voilà! Put that diamond ring back on so you can “ooooo” and “ahhhh” at it to your heart’s content.
Items to Avoid When Cleaning Jewelry at Home
It might be tempting to grab whatever you can find to clean your diamond engagement ring, but to do so would be pure folly. There are many common household items that can damage your rings and gems by scratching them or even jarring them loose! Here are some items you should NOT use when cleaning a diamond ring at home:
- Paper towels: They can scratch the metal on your ring.
- Any kind of hard brush. It’s important to choose soft brushes to avoid scratching and damage.
- Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners. These are marketed as a way to clean your rings at home, but we advise strongly against their use. Why? They work by using vibrations that can actually loosen ad even dislodge your diamonds over time.
- Cleaners or chemicals. Never, EVER use household cleaners to clean your diamond jewelry. Plain dishwashing soap (think the kind they use to clean up wildlife after an oil spill) is the only cleaning product you should turn to on Ring Cleaning Day.
The bottom line here? It’s actually very simple to clean your diamond ring at home. If you simply can’t wait until the regularly scheduled cleaning with your jeweler, following our steps will ensure your diamond looks and feels its very best…all the time.
And while you decide just how your engagement ring looks, we’ll take care of protecting it. After all, providing the best jewelry insurance available today is what we do. What we love to do.
Get a free quote today to see how Zillion engagement ring insurance helps cover your bling from theft, loss, damage; even natural disasters. Our insurance policies will help you do much more than just wear your jewelry. They’ll help you wear it with confidence.
Now go forth and shine on, you crazy diamond…
