How to Clean and Care For Your Engagement Ring

If you think about it, there are very few things you wear 24/7, 365 days a year. In fact, it’s quite possible that there’s only one—your engagement ring. Your most precious piece of jewelry—and likely your most valuable, your engagement ring is your constant companion, going through every day with you and your partner. And, that’s all good, engagement rings are designed to be part of your daily life.

But just like anything, constant wear can take its toll, particularly on the life and luminosity of your diamond or center stone. Residue from the products you use can start to build up over time, which can dull the stone or cause discoloration of the metal, not to mention general dirt and debris getting caught in the more intricate detailings of your setting. Long story short, the more you do with your hands, the more grime accumulates, and the more frequently you’ll need to clean your engagement ring.

Engagement Ring Care 101

This is where that all-important engagement ring TLC comes in. Caring for your engagement ring on a regular basis can keep the sparkle radiant, your band gleaming, and any ornate elements looking their finest. The goal? Keeping it as lustrous and exquisite as the first day you put it on. Whether monthly checks to inspect the stone and prongs for any issues, learning how to clean your engagement ring at home, or taking it annually into an authorized TACORI retailer for that spa treatment, by putting the love into your ring, your engagement ring will love you right back for years to come.

And, while we know it’s not the most glamorous side to owning precious jewelry, if you’re type A or anything close, you might just find the process of cleaning your engagement ring a little satisfying too.

How To Clean Your Engagement Ring At Home

Cleaning your engagement ring at home is a lot easier than you’d think. The most important thing is to be gentle with your ring. avoid using any harsh chemicals or sharp objects to get into your ring’s nooks and crannies. Any debris can be lifted by a good soak instead—just make sure you use the right cleaning products and follow our guide.

The Best Way To Clean a Diamond Ring

First up, you may be thinking that the best way to clean your engagement ring requires time and skill. And, you’d be right if you’re taking it into a professional jeweler for a deeper clean. But for cleaning your engagement ring at home, the simplest solutions are often the most effective.

One of our favorite and easiest techniques to keep your diamond ring looking its best is a good, old-fashioned dish soap and water soak. Fill a small bowl with warm water and add a squeeze or two of dish soap—we prefer more natural soaps without added chemicals or dyes. Drop in your ring and leave it for around 20-30 minutes depending on how much of a clean you think it needs. This will loosen up any debris, residue, and cleanse away any bacteria that’s built up. When you feel it’s ready, remove it and give it a quick, warm shower, running it under the tap. As it can be slippery while soapy, make sure the sink drain or stopper is in place, in case it slips—we don’t want it escaping down the drain. Dry it off with a fluffy towel—nothing rough or scratchy, and watch that shine make its comeback.

Another more natural method to re-energize the sparkle of your diamond or any other precious stone is with a little white vinegar or another natural but not overly harsh astringent like witch hazel. Add your ring to a quarter cup—depending on how much debris you think there is, and soak for around five minutes. Because of its acidity, vinegar makes a more robust cleanser than soap, while also being gentle enough not to damage the ring.

For any dirt that hasn’t lifted away from either soak, try getting a soft-bristle toothbrush or brush and gently wipe over your ring. Rinse again, then dry it off.

We don’t recommend you try using a home ultrasonic cleaner on any of your rings as these can really damage the setting and loosen the stones. Leave anything more than simple soaks to your professional TACORI retail partner.

How To Clean a Platinum Ring

Platinum is the purest and most durable of all the precious metals; it actually gets stronger over time. It doesn’t tarnish, but rather it forms a patina effect which actually is coveted by many platinum fans. Despite its strength, platinum still needs a little pampering from time to time.

Platinum cleans up well with the classic soap and water soak, or you can try using a special platinum cleaning cloth too. If you’re in doubt about any aspect of cleaning your platinum, you can always take it to your local TACORI retail partner for their expert advice.

How To Clean a White, Yellow or Rose Gold Ring

Unlike platinum, silver and all the golds—yellow, rose, and white, can all tarnish quite quickly. To clean your gold engagement ring, you can follow the same approach with a soapy water soak, and you could try varying the water temperature, immersing it first in cold water, then in hot to see if that restores your ring’s radiance.

An easy way to keep on top of the discoloration is by using a polishing cloth every week or month, depending on the frequency of the tarnishing. You can buy specialist gold or silver polishing cloths from any jewelry store.

As with all center-stones and all precious metals, avoid using any harsh chemicals to clean your rings. White gold has a rhodium plating that can be damaged or stripped by harsh chemicals, so it’s important to treat your ring carefully and take a very gentle approach.

How To Clean Other Precious Stones

While diamonds are known for their strength, cleaning your precious stones isn’t always a one-size-fits all approach. Rubies and sapphires are close contenders to diamonds in the strength stakes and can be cleaned in similar ways. Other gemstones such as emeralds, quartzes, and opals are more porous and need much more gentle treatments.

For all engagement rings with gemstones never submerge them in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner, or expose to salt water or harsh chemicals. Protect them from extreme temperatures and strong sunlight as these can potentially cause discoloration.

As gemstones can be so delicate, if you’re in any doubt, again, visit your local TACORI retailer who can advise the best way to clean and care for your gemstone engagement ring.

OK, so if you’ve made it this far, you clearly have a few more questions. Here are answers to the more common engagement ring care queries we get…

How Often Should I Clean My Engagement Ring?

This totally depends on what activities you’re doing while wearing your engagement ring and the level of grime that’s built up. It doesn’t hurt to be proactive with cleaning your engagement ring, particularly when it comes to preventing the metal from tarnishing or checking for any damage. We recommend monthly check-ins with your ring to see what’s up, and then giving it a soapy soak. That’s the perfect maintenance to keep your ring looking shiny and bright.

If you’re a super active person and work with your hands, it’s a good idea to get it cleaned professionally every six months or annually, to make sure they get to any stubborn areas and do any necessary repairs. Think of it as a spa break for your ring.

When Should I Take Off My Engagement Ring?

Again, this is down to personal choice and you’ll need to think about how delicate your setting is. If you’re going to do anything that involves the use of chemicals such as bleach, chlorine, or anything stronger, you’ll always want to remove your engagement ring, and wear gloves too. The same goes for getting a manicure too—acetone is not good for your jewelry or any precious stones. It’s definitely best to remove your ring for more hand or dirt-intensive activities like yard work or DIY, and some people also prefer to remove rings while handling raw meat too for hygiene reasons.

Whenever you remove your engagement ring, it’s also important to think about where you’re going to store it. Make sure you have a safe space for it such as a ring box or dish or a jewelry pouch. As tempting and convenient as it may be to put it in a pocket or on a work surface, this is the easiest way for it to get lost or dropped.

Can I Wash My Hands With My Engagement Ring On?

If you’re using a gentle hand soap, you can leave your ring on. But if you don’t thoroughly rinse the soap off it can contribute to that dreaded dull residue we’re trying to avoid. Where possible, avoid applying hand sanitizer directly to your ring, especially not the center-stone.

Can You Clean Your Engagement Ring Too Much?

Yes, like everything in life, moderation and balance is key and there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Don’t overdo the cleaning, stick to a set schedule and see how it goes. You can always take your ring into a TACORI retail partner and consult an expert to see what frequency they recommend too.

What are some safe cleaning solutions for diamond engagement rings?

The best way to clean an engagement ring is with a simple solution of soap and water. If you need a slightly more thorough cleaning, you can consider the following solutions:

Windex and hydrogen at a 1:1 ratio can be used to clean a silver or gold diamond ring.
Vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean a silver ring.
Ketchup (surprise!) and a soft-bristle toothbrush can clean a silver ring.
A light beer can bring the luster back to solid gold rings, but avoid getting beer on the gemstones - particularly if you're using a dark ale.

When Should I Get My Engagement Ring Professionally Cleaned?

We recommend a professional clean at least once a year to keep your engagement ring looking and feeling its best. It’s always a good idea to get your ring cleaned at the same place for that continuity of care too. Your jeweler will not only clean your ring, but also check for any loose stones, and any other issues you might not have noticed.

How often you get a professional clean for your ring also depends on if you’re keeping up with your home care and cleaning maintenance.

With more porous gemstone rings, or rings with intricate settings, we recommend you leave it to the professionals to clean.

You should also have your ring professionally cleaned when you've tried to clean it yourself, but it's just not shining as much as you'd like it. Your jeweler will have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, which is gentle and thorough on your jewelry.

And, so now you know how easy it is to care for your engagement ring, you can keep that shine and sparkle strong for all the years to come.