When you first receive your engagement ring, it'll be the sparkliest, most beautiful thing you've ever laid your eyes on, but daily wear can cause dirt, residue and oils to build up, and its shine to dim. So, how do you clean your engagement ring in a way that's safe, simple, and won't cause any damage?
If you're the proud owner of an engagement ring and want to keep it looking its best, we're breaking down exactly how to safely clean your engagement ring at home. Read on for our tips, tricks, dos and don'ts for engagement ring cleaning.
Researching before buying, or wanting to drop a hint? Shop engagement rings here.
Contents:
- The best way to clean your engagement ring
- Gold vs platinum engagement ring cleaning tips
- How to avoid damaging gemstones when cleaning your engagement ring
- The best cleaning products for diamond engagement rings
- How to dry your engagement ring after cleaning
- How often to clean your engagement ring
- Professional engagement ring cleaning
The best way to clean your engagement ring at home
To clean your engagement ring at home, you don't need expensive, fancy products or machines. All you need is some warm water, a gentle soap like an eco-friendly washing-up liquid, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
The method below is what we recommend for gold and platinum engagement rings with hard stones like diamonds, sapphires and rubies (advice for different stones can be found later in the article!).
Follow these 5 simple steps to have your ring sparkling again in no time:
- Inspect your ring: Before cleaning, take a look at the claws, stone and setting of your ring to see if anything has come loose or is damaged. This will tell you either where to be extra gentle when cleaning, or if you need to get your ring professionally repaired beforehand to avoid further damage.
- Soak your ring: Fill up a bowl with warm (not hot) water, mixed with a few drops of gentle eco washing-up liquid. Pop your ring in and let it soak in the solution for 10-20 minutes. This is an abrasive-free, safe way to give your ring an initial clean.
- Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas: Dip a super soft, clean toothbrush into the solution and gently use it to clean the ring, paying attention to the area under the gemstone(s) and avoiding the top of the stone.
- Plug your sink: Before rinsing your newly-cleaned ring, make sure your drain is plugged to avoid losing your ring down the plughole if dropped.
- Rinse and dry: Rinse your ring under gentle warm running water to remove soap and dislodged residue. To dry, gently pat the ring with a lint-free or microfibre cloth.
Metal considerations: cleaning gold vs platinum engagement rings
For both platinum and gold engagement rings, the method of using a soft-bristled toothbrush and warm, soapy water is recommended as a safe way to clean your ring at home. However, there are some things to consider depending on the characteristics of your ring's metal:
Metal hardness of gold and platinum
Gold engagement rings with higher carats, like 18ct and 22ct, are softer, and so are more prone to scratching than 9ct or 14ct gold and highly durable platinum.
If your ring is made of gold that's 18 carat or more, be sure to be extra gentle and use a soft-bristled or baby toothbrush when cleaning.
Sensitivity to chemicals
Solid gold can experience discolouration or weakening if exposed to harsh chemicals like chlorine or bleach, so it's best to always opt for a gentle soap.
Platinum is a bit more resistant to damage, but it's still best to avoid harsh chemicals to maintain its durability and beauty over time.
Rhodium-plating and patina
If you have a white gold ring that has been rhodium-plated, be extra careful when cleaning, as scrubbing with a toothbrush too hard may remove some of the plating and call for sooner re-plating.
Wild Fawn white gold engagement rings are not rhodium-plated, as we prefer to avoid the use of toxic chemicals involved in the process - plus, we love the naturally occurring warm hue that white gold has. So if you have a white gold engagement ring with us, this isn't something to worry about when giving your ring an at-home clean.
If your ring is made from platinum, it's normal for patina (a frosted, satin-like coating that naturally develops over time) to be present. Cleaning your platinum ring with patina using warm soapy water won't remove the patina, but it will remove built-up oils, grease and residue. The only way to remove patina from platinum is to get it professionally polished.
Gemstones: How to avoid damaging gemstones while cleaning your engagement ring
When cleaning your engagement ring, it's important to know how to avoid damaging the gemstones in the process. If your ring has a diamond, sapphire or ruby, the hardness of these stones means soaking and gentle scrubbing with a soft-bristle brush will not damage them. You should still avoid hard-bristled brushes, hot water, and harsh chemicals.
If your engagement ring's gemstone is of a softer variety - for example, emeralds, opals, pearls, turquoises or aquamarines - you should not soak it, as these stones are more porous than diamonds and sapphires, and soaking can lead to them absorbing water, cracking and permanently dimming their clarity. These stones should also not be scrubbed (even gently) with a soft brush, as this again could cause the stones to crack, come loose or discolour. The best way to clean an engagement ring with one of these more sensitive, softer stones is to simply wipe with a slightly damp microfibre cloth, and dry immediately - or take it to a jeweller for a professional clean.
What are the best cleaning products for diamond engagement rings?
The best cleaning product for diamond or sapphire engagement rings is a gentle soap that doesn't contain harsh chemicals or fragrances. We recommend using an eco-friendly washing-up liquid, as they contain biodegradable ingredients, often come in recycled packaging, and do not contain harsh chemicals like traditional, non-eco alternatives. Using an eco washing up liquid will be gentle and effective on your engagement ring, all while not negatively contributing to the purity of our waterways.
How should I dry my diamond engagement ring after cleaning?
To dry your engagement ring after cleaning it, simply dab it with a clean, non-abrasive, lint-free cloth, like a microfibre cloth. Avoid tissue or paper towels, as these can leave lint behind and cause damage or scratching, especially on gold rings and softer stones. Our Jewellery Polishing Cloth is perfect for this.
You can also leave it to air dry on a clean cloth if you're not in a hurry.
Can I use a polishing cloth on my gold engagement ring?
A polishing cloth's main purpose is to remove silver sulfide (dark layer of tarnish) from sterling silver jewellery, as sterling silver experiences tarnish over time as its copper alloy is exposed to chemicals, humidity, air pollution and more. Solid gold and platinum do not experience tarnishing in this way, and so polishing cloths alone won't be so effective on your gold or platinum engagement ring; however, they can be used to dry your ring after cleaning.
How often should I clean my engagement ring?
Whenever your engagement ring is looking not as sparkly as you'd like, you can clean it using the gentle at-home method as often as you see fit, as long as you take extra care, follow the do's and don't's, and don't apply too much pressure to your ring.
It's then recommended to take your ring to your local jeweller around every 6-12 months for a professional clean. The jeweller can also give your ring a once-over to ensure the prongs and setting are still secure, and provide any necessary repairs too.
What is the process of professional engagement ring cleaning?
When you take your engagement ring to be professionally cleaned, your jeweller will use a specialist jewellery polishing machine and an ultrasonic cleaner, making sure to use the right methods for your ring's material and gemstone(s). The tools in a jeweller's workshop, including magnifying goggles and polishing tools, mean they can clean hard-to-reach areas where residue and dirt may have built up over time.
With their expertise, know-how and specialist tools, a professional clean is the best way to get your engagement ring deep cleaned, buffed and polished, with the peace of mind that no damage will be done during the process.
Where can I find professional engagement ring cleaning services?
If you purchased your engagement ring at Wild Fawn, your 3-year warranty includes light cleaning (with a jewellery ultrasonic), and inspection is complimentary for the duration of your warranty. If you'd like your ring professionally deep-cleaned, buffed and polished, we can do this for you at £35 per item. Simply get in touch with us at bespoke@wildfawnjewellery.com to book an appointment and bring your ring to our South-East London workshop.
If your engagement ring was not purchased with us, but you're local to South-East London and would like a professional clean, we're still happy to help. Simply contact us if this is you!
For more jewellery care and cleaning tips and tricks, visit our Jewellery Care page here.
Wild Fawn engagement rings are made from 100% recycled gold or platinum, sapphires that are ethically mined and individually hand-picked, and lab-grown diamonds. Being confident that our stones are conflict-free is the only way we will ever include them in our engagement rings. From designing and casting to stone-setting and engraving, every part of the making process takes place here in the UK. Wild Fawn engagement rings are for couples who care deeply about how their meaningful wedding jewellery is made, and who makes it.
Browse our collection of engagement rings here, or book a free consultation with us.
