If you're lucky enough to own a timeless diamond you might be wondering 'what can I use to clean my rings at home?' In this blog, we'll take a look at some of the different household products that can be used at home to clean jewellery and answer the common question: how long does cleaning a ring take?

What Is The Best Way To Clean Diamonds?

There are various ways that you can clean diamonds at home using common household products such as hydrogen peroxide, washing up liquid and even toothpaste! We'll cover all of them in detail below.

Can I Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Clean My Diamond Ring?

Hydrogen peroxide is popular because it is antibacterial and will sterilise your jewellery -something that is very important with regular wear. To clean your diamond ring with hydrogen peroxide, add a few drops of the peroxide to a solution of cleanser and warm water. Let the jewellery sit so that the bacteria and fat deposits lift - this will take around 15 minutes. You can then use a soft brush to manually lift off any remaining dirt.

Can I Use Baking Soda To Clean Diamond Rings?

How do you make a homemade ring cleaner? Some people try baking soda which is found in most kitchens, cheap and natural. Take a cup of vinegar and two cups of baking soda, then once the baking soda has dissolved, let the diamond jewellery sit in the solution for a couple of hours before carefully buffing and drying it with a soft cloth.

Can I Use Vinegar To Clean My Diamond Ring?

Is vinegar a good homemade jewellery cleaner? Yes, it can be effective when combined with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide and it has natural antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It's important to use a recipe that contains an alkaline solution such as baking soda though as vinegar on its own can be too acidic for gemstones and create a mild tarnishing effect.

Can I Use Toothpaste To Clean Jewellery?

it is a common myth that toothpaste is a good cleaning solution for diamonds and jewellery in general, but it is too abrasive for gemstones and metals such as gold and silver. This is because toothpaste measures 3/4 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness and its abrasive nature, not to mention the chemicals that it contains, are damaging to jewellery. Try one of these other home methods for cleaning diamonds instead.

Can I Use Alcohol Or Coca-Cola To Clean Diamonds?

Isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol, is safe to use on diamonds and on true gold and silver. If it is used on costume jewellery it can react with the metals such as nickel and tarnish the appearance. You can soak a diamond ring in rubbing alcohol for a few hours and then use a soft cloth to buff it. We would never recommend using coke, however - save it for the toilet bowl!

Can You Use Windex To Clean Diamond Rings?

What other household products can be used to clean jewellery? Windex is commonly used as a home diamond cleaning solution when combined with warm water and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. It is a safe home remedy and can achieve a good shine.

Can I Use Washing-Up Liquid To Clean The Jewellery?

Washing-up liquid is often used for home jewellery cleaning. It's effective and gentle and it won't damage your jewellery so it's well worth drying. You can leave the diamond in the warm water solution for a few minutes to lift off dirt, fat deposits and grime.

Fairy Liquid and other types of washing-up liquid are safe to use to clean your jewellery and you can use this basic and inexpensive cleaning ingredient to lift off fat deposits and dirt and make your jewellery hygienic once again. Just use a little washing-up liquid and warm water and manually clean surfaces and crevices with a soft brush before allowing the jewellery to soak.

FAQs

How Do Jewelers Clean Diamond Rings?

How do rings get professionally cleaned? The jeweller will first carry out a visual inspection of the diamond to see whether there is any physical damage or any problem spots on the ring's surface. After this, they will use a specialist ultrasonic cleaner that gets into every microscopic crevice and intricacy of the diamond for a complete clean. The ultrasonic cleaner uses radiowaves and specialist cleaning solutions to ensure every layer of dirt and bacteria is lifted to reveal the full lustre of the diamond.

Wondering 'how much does it cost to clean a diamond ring?' Expect to pay around £30 to £50 depending on the nature of the jewellery item you need to be cleaned, its metals and the required result. It can be expensive, and oftentimes it is possible to clean your diamonds at home and achieve a great result.

How Often Do You Clean A Diamond Ring?

Experts recommend cleaning your diamond rings at least twice a year so that they retain their sparkle and lustre. This also helps them to stay hygienic.

What Is The Main Ingredient In Jewellery Cleaner?

Professional jewellery cleaners tend to include a range of alkaline cleansing ingredients and some now also include ingredients such as tea tree essential oil for the antiseptic properties. The important thing is that the cleaner isn't damaging to either the gem or the surrounding metal - and you may want to wear gloves too to protect your skin.

How Do You Dry A Ring After Cleaning It?

The best approach is to use a clean and soft cloth which you can use to dry and then gently buff the diamond jewellery to shine. Alternatively, you can air dry it or place it under warm air.