Tips & hacks

How to clean rings – 5 best DIY tips

 jewellery cleaning tips

How to clean rings? This article covers the best professional tips you can safely and affordably use at home to get the sparkle back into your diamond, gemstone and silver rings. Follow these instructions carefully and you’ll be amazed at the results.

1. How to clean diamond rings

This cleaning method is safe for all diamond rings set in gold, platinum or silver.

  1. First, fill a bowl with lukewarm water.
  2. Never wash a ring over a sink, in case you have a loose diamond and it falls down the drain!
  3. Add a drop of soap into the bowl and soak the ring for a few minutes.
  4. Then scrub the diamond ring gently with an old toothbrush.
  5. Finally, rinse off any soap and pat your ring dry with a lint-free cloth.

You’ll notice a huge difference in how your diamonds sparkle and the metal glows.

2. How to clean gemstone rings

There are two types of gemstones: those that can be soaked in water and those that cannot. But which gemstones shouldn’t be soaked? The answer is any porous gems, such as pearls or opals. They are not as hard as other precious stones and, therefore, need extra care when you’re cleaning them.

To clean your gems safely, first check your gem’s softness here on the Mohs Scale of mineral hardness. If your gem scores 5 or lower on the scale, only use the cleaning products described in number 4 below.

Alternatively, to clean hard gems which score 6 or higher, simply use the water and soap method described above.

3. How to clean silver rings

Sometimes silver can get tarnished and lose its lustre. Here’s a handy DIY method using household materials, which makes an incredible difference:

Warning: Only use this method on rings entirely made of silver, not ones that include gems or other materials, as they could get damaged. For those, use cleaning method number 4 below.

  1. Line a ceramic or glass bowl with tinfoil, shiny side up.
  2. Fill the bowl with water, then add 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of salt and a little bit of white vinegar.
  3. Pop your silver ring in the liquid for a maximum of 5 minutes, all the while keeping an eye on how it starts to self-clean.
  4. As soon as your ring looks shiny, take it out and rinse it with plenty of water.
  5. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

4. Professional cleaning at home

There are affordable professional jewellery cleaning methods that you can safely use at home. For example, the Connoisseurs Polishing Wipes and Dazzle Stiks are inexpensive and safe jewellery cleaning products that you can use on any diamond and gem jewellery. They are suitable for polishing silver and gold. What’s more, you’ll get many uses from them. Our team here at TheDiamondStore use them at home, so we can vouch for the great results.

5. How often should you clean rings?

You should inspect your engagement, wedding and other rings every month. Pay attention to any signs of dirt and dullness. Do the diamonds or gems still sparkle when you hold them in the light? If the answer is no, then it’s time for a cleaning.

While you’re inspecting your rings, look out for any signs of wear and tear. Such as loose gems or bent claws. These may need professional mending and you’ll minimise the risk of losing any stones.


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