When you’re a mom, the messes seem infinite, especially if you’re self-employed and you’re watching over your children. With all the running around, you may forget to take off your ring. Before you know it, your wedding band also needs a quick clean to keep its beautiful shine.
How to Clean a Dirty Wedding Ring
Cleaning metal, wood, or silicone jewelry is simple, but make sure you don’t use any harsh chemicals. Bleach and metal cleaners could damage your ring, but these techniques won’t.
Use Water and Soap for Most Jewelry
Although there are hundreds of jewelry cleaners on the market, you should avoid using them at all costs. An at-home cleaning solution made with 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid for every 1 cup of water has more than enough cleaning power for even the messiest, grimiest jewelry.
Soak Your Wedding Ring if Necessary
It can be difficult to clean rings with a channel, tension, or prong setting due to their deep grooves. If you can’t remove all of the dirt with your finger, try soaking your ring in warm water for 5 minutes. Use a toothpick to remove stuck-on dirt, but be careful, or you’ll scratch the ring.
Scrub With a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
It can feel strange to scrub gorgeous wedding bands or extremely elegant black diamond rings with a toothbrush, but it really does the trick. Simple rings can be cleaned with just your finger, but a soft-bristled toothbrush can get into places you otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach.
Never use an old toothbrush, even if you’re sure you’ve cleaned it properly. Toothpaste contains chemicals that could ruin your ring. When using a toothbrush, scrub gently in a side-to-side motion. Feel free to use soap and water. Rinse the ring in warm water once you’re finished.
Wipe Clean With a Microfiber Cloth
While you could air-dry your ring, you’ll be left with streaks depending on the quality of your jewelry. Use a paper towel or regular cloth and gently pat your jewelry dry. If you want to give your jewelry some shine, slowly take a microfiber cloth and dry using a clockwise motion.
Try a Diamond Cloth for Smudges
You can purchase a diamond cloth at any online jeweler, and it may be worth the wait if you want light to pass through your diamond. Use the diamond cloth after your jewelry has dried, and avoid touching the inside of the cloth. Rub it firmly and evenly to remove finger smudges.
Shine Silver With Baking Soda and Salt
Sometimes cleaning silver jewelry won’t remove the tarnish, so you’ll need to purchase baking soda and kosher salt to make silver shine. To create your de-tarnishing solution, add ½ a cup of kosher salt and ½ a cup of baking soda for every 2 cups of hot water in an aluminum-lined bowl.
Place your silver jewelry inside the bowl and wait 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the jewelry and rinse it well with warm water. Use a microfiber cloth (a paper towel or a regular cloth are fine) and buff dry. For tough spots, use a toothbrush. Badly tarnished items may need to be soaked twice.
Go to a Professional Jewelry Cleaner
If your wedding ring comes with a warranty, you’ll likely be able to receive a free cleaning. Even if they aren’t included with your purchase, jewelry cleanings are very affordable. Plus, you’ll have access to expert equipment, like ultrasonic cleaners and non-toxic cleaning solutions.
Keep in mind that you should only request help from an expert with serious messes (paint or motor oil), as frequent cleaning can add up. Still, it’s recommended that you clean your jewelry at home one to two times a month and at a professional cleaner once or twice a year.