When you have an engagement ring, you want to treat it with the utmost care. After all, it’s not only an expensive jewel but it also symbolises the decision of commitment to your partner. While it’s true that diamonds are resistant gems, rings can soon get dirty and oily, especially if you wear it everyday (or do things you’re not really supposed to do with the ring on, such as doing the dishes/cleaning the house). Moisturisers, sweat, dust, dirty surfaces; these can all contribute to making your rock shine a little less brilliantly each day. Cleaning your diamond thoroughly can and should be regularly completed by professionals, but to keep your rock sparkling between professional cleans this guide can help.
Why keeping it clean is important
Everyone loves how diamonds reflect the light and shine so brightly. But if you wear your ring every day and don’t clean it, soon the diamonds can start looking dull or cloudy; just like any other crystal clear gemstone.
Additionally, the benefit of keeping your ring clean isn’t just about the shine. When you regularly clean it, you get to spend time inspecting it and making sure it’s in good condition. You can make sure that that the gemstone isn’t loose, or that there are no chips in the surface. If one of these things were to happen, it is better to catch them as soon as you can so you can take it to the jeweler to be fixed.
How often to clean it
As everyday routines can progressively dirty your ring, it depends how much you wear it to know how often you should clean it. For example, if you always wear it when showering, exercising, going outdoors, playing with your pet, doing house cleaning and applying moisturiser, then you should clean it once a week as a minimum. The time of cleaning goes hand in hand with the amount of activities you do with the ring on; the good thing is, there’s no such thing as cleaning it too much.
How to clean it: The process
1- Soak it
Find a small bowl, fill it with lukewarm water and add a tiny bit of dishwashing soap. Mix the soap in with the water and drop your ring in it for a 15 – 20 minute soak. This process will loosen any dirt, moisturisers, oils or dry soap that the ring may have.
While soaking with soap is the most common and easy way of soaking your ring, you can also use a solution of ammonia and water, however, you’ll need to use rubber gloves to protect your skin and hands. It is important to note that if you’ll be doing the cleaning process in the bathroom, don’t get too close to the sink. For extra precaution, cover the sink drain with a plug – after all it’s better to be safe than sorry.
2- Brush it
After your beloved ring has been soaking for about 20 minutes, grab a super soft toothbrush and gently scrub the ring, concentrating on the gaps between the stone and the setting. Be careful not to apply any pressure on it, as it could loosen the diamond.
3- Rinse and dry
Finally, rinse your ring with warm water, turning it around and using your finger to gently get rid of any soap remaining. When you’re satisfied that the ring looks as clean as it can be, leave it to air-dry or use a soft cloth to very gently pat dry.
DIY jewellery cleaner recipe
If you have a bit more time and are up for the challenge of creating your own jewellery cleaner, we’ve got the perfect DIY!
You’ll need:
-1 tablespoon of salt
-1 tablespoon of baking soda
-1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap
-1 cup of hot water
-2 squares of aluminium foil, roughly 30cm x 30cm
Process:
First, line a bowl with a square of aluminium foil and add the salt, baking soda and soap. Now add the hot water. The liquid should start frizzing as a chemical reaction occurs. This chemical exchange is called an ion transfer, and its known for naturally cleaning metals.
Drop the ring into the solution, and follow the steps of soaking, brushing and rinsing as mentioned above.
What you should avoid
There are some precautions you need to take when cleaning and wearing your ring, in order to keep your engagement jewel in the best of conditions! Some important things to steer clear of are:
- Wearing your ring when doing a high amount of dishes or cleaning the house: Try to remove your ring and store it in a safe place. If you don’t really like to take it off, consider buying rubber gloves. They’re inexpensive and not only will protect the ring, but will stop your skin from drying too!
- Using harsh chemicals to soak the ring: Even though bleach, chlorine and acetone are great cleaning products, they are not meant to be used on delicate jewellery, so don’t ever let these products come close to your beautiful ring!
- Commercial silver and gold cleaners: Although it wouldn’t be technically wrong to use these to clean your jewellery, it is advisable to just stick to soap/homemade cleaner and water, rather than using commercial cleaners which have lots of chemicals that can be a bit abrasive.
- Paper towels: Steer clear of paper towels to dry your ring, as they can scratch the metal.
- Toothpaste: Better to leave toothpaste for teeth cleaning only, as it can be abrasive and it could potentially scratch the gold.
Now that you know a bit more about how to clean your cherished engagement ring, we hope you keep it in tip-top condition. While you can definitely keep it looking amazing at home, bear in mind it is always a good idea to take it to the jeweller once a year for a professional clean and a checkup. We hope you dazzle as many people as you can with your diamond’s undeniable sparkle!
by Australian Diamond Brokers : October 12th 2016 Come visit our store or browse our website to find out more.