How often should I have my rings cleaned? (2024)

FAQs

How often should I have my rings cleaned? ›

We highly recommend that you get your ring cleaned and inspected by a professional every 6 months. Depending on the jeweler and warranty, professional cleanings may be free or require small payments.

We recommend customers bring jewelry in at least once a year. Items worn regularly should be cleaned and checked every few months. This is especially true for engagement rings but applies to all regularly worn pieces.

Fill one bowl with hot water and add dish soap. Fill the other bowl with cool water to rinse. Mix the soapy warm water with the toothbrush and gently scrub the ring, paying close attention to crevices where dirt can collect. Let the ring soak in the warm water for about 15-30 minutes.

“It's ideal to get your rings cleaned as close to the day of the wedding as possible, so they are at their sparkling best for your special day,” says Schatner.

The cleansing solution has a 1 year shelf life and is good for about 35 uses. This depends on the size and condition of the pieces being cleaned. Smaller pieces may allow for more uses, while larger or very dirty pieces might lessen the number of times the solution can be used.

But rinsing and rubbing fragile jewelry too much can cause unnecessary damage and premature wear—and cleaning too little can cause your beloved pieces to degrade over time.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaning is used for diamond and gemstone cleaning. It uses high-frequency sound waves and cleaning solutions that create bubbles that latch on to the dirt on the diamond. The sound waves release the dirt from the diamond.

Silver and Gold Ring: Soak it in a Windex and hydrogen peroxide solution (50/50 mix) for 10 to 15 minutes. While the Windex removes dirt build-up, the hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria. After soaking, scrub gently with a soft toothbrush and rinse with lukewarm water.

Dawn dish soap is safe and effective at cleaning jewelry. Just add a few drops to a warm basin of water and let your jewelry soak for 15-30 minutes. Then remove it from the basin and gently brush with a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush to get grime out of the grooves.

At-home cleaning is a necessary part of engagement ring care, but it can't replace professional cleaning and inspection. While removing surface build-up and restoring shine yourself is easy enough, only a professional jewelry cleaner will be able to safely remove hard-to-reach layers of compressed dirt and grime.

Does Zales clean jewelry for free? ›

Lifetime Cleaning and Inspection

You may have your Zales diamond cleaned and inspected as often as you want, free of charge, for as long as you own it.

Trying to clean your ring at home just doesn't make it shine like the jewelry store does. This is because your jewelry store will be able to clean, polish, and finally steam clean your diamond rings.

If you leave it in over the recommended amount of time, it won't harm your jewelry, however if a chemical reaction does occur that discolors your jewelry, use a polishing cloth to remove the color and restore the original color.

It's important to clean jewelry regularly because everyday activities can cause oils, lotions, soap, make up, food, sunscreen, hairspray and perfume to build up which can make it appear dingy and dull. Clean gold jewelry you wear everyday once per week to keep it shiny and prevent a build-up of bacteria.

Wearing your ring to bed can be risky, as it may get snagged in the bedding, causing damage to the ring or your finger. Sometimes your fingers can swell when sleeping and if your ring is an exact fit, it may get uncomfortable through the night and also cause risk of lack of circulation.