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How to Clean Your Engagement or Wedding Ring

Ring Advice

Jewelry shopping can be intimidating. That’s why we started Ask Holden, our blog where we answer your FAQs, break down scary industry lingo, and guide you in finding the perfect piece of jewelry.

"I love my ring! How do I keep it clean?" is a question we're asked frequently. So frequently, in fact, that it’s listed in our frequently asked questions! In the spirit of FAQs, we’ll teach you how to clean your wedding ring and your engagement ring in a handy question and answer format.

Q: How do I clean my wedding ring?

A: Excellent question! To clean rings at home, our number one recommendation is to use a microfiber jewelry polishing cloth designed for gold, silver, or platinum. Gently wipe down your ring to clean it.

Q: Okay, but my ring is super dirty! A gentle wipe with a polishing cloth isn’t gonna cut it. What do I do?

A: In a small bowl, mix warm water and a small amount of dish soap. Gently place your ring inside the bowl of soap and water and allow it to soak for 20-40 minutes. Very, very gently (like, sooo gently), use a soft toothbrush to remove any leftover dirt/residue on the ring. Rinse the ring and allow it to air dry (or wipe down with a soft cloth). Whatever you do, don’t dry your ring using a paper towel, as that can scratch the ring! If you don’t have dishwashing soap, it’s possible to use shampoo or body wash (as long as the soaps are not moisturizing—lotions leave a residue and are a no-no!). Even though you may see articles saying it’s a great "hack" to clean your ring with baking soda, this can be very abrasive—we don’t recommend it. Also: please step away from any harsh chemicals! They can permanently damage your ring.

Q: Thanks for the great advice! I just noticed my diamond engagement ring is dirty. Can I clean diamond jewelry the same way?

A: Yes! You can clean diamond rings with soap, water, and a soft toothbrush. Just be very gentle with the toothbrush so you don’t displace any diamonds.

Q: None of these methods are giving my ring the deep clean I’m looking for. Can I send it in for professional cleaning?

A: Absolutely! You can take your ring to a local jeweler to have it cleaned or send it back to us so we can professionally repolish and clean it in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. (Just send us an email at help@hiholden.com.It will come back sparkling clean!

Q: Wow. Thank you for everything, Holden! I just cleaned my wedding ring, and it’s (to quote Outkast) so fresh, so clean.

A: Stop it, you're making us blush.

Questions? Give us a shout at help@hiholden.com or a ring (pun intended) at 646.722.6817.