How to Clean Rings

Co-authored by Kennon Young

Last Updated: December 8, 2024 References

In order to clean your ring, you will need to be aware of the metal type. Each metal reacts uniquely with certain chemicals, and you don't want to risk rubbing your ring raw. You can remove light grime by wiping the ring with your finger, a soft cloth, and warm, filtered water. You can use jewelry-specific cleaning products to remove heavier stains, and you can gently brush your ring with toothpaste for a cheap home solution. You can remove tarnish by soaking your ring in water and ammonia. If your ring is especially intricate or valuable, consider taking it to a jeweler to have it professionally cleaned.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Knowing Your Metal

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1
Identify the ring's metal. You may know that the ring is yellow gold, white gold, silver, or brass. However, you may not know the type of metal if you haven't bought the ring yourself. Take the ring to a jeweler, and they should be able to tell you how to clean the specific metals and gems that make up your ring.
- Silver rings : Silver typically tarnishes over time, developing a black coating. Regular polishing of your silver ring can prevent this. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or brushes, as they can scratch the silver surface.
- Gold rings : Usually there are white, yellow, and rose gold types of rings. Gold rings have stamps on them of 10k,14k, or 18k karat value. Gold is a delicate metal that picks up scratches easily, so avoid using abrasive cleaners.
- Platinum rings : Platinum is a heavy metal, and it is a popular choice for high-quality jewelry. However, as a heavy metal, it scratches easily. Use a soft cloth to clean these rings, and avoid harsh cleaners.
- Diamond rings : Avoid soaking certain diamonds in water or cleaners, as this can damage or weaken them and the metal they're set in. Clean them gently with a soft cloth. Diamonds often hold great material and sentimental value — handling them with care will help maintain their sparkle and ensure they continue to shine brightly.
2
Clean different metals with the right products. Each metal reacts uniquely with various chemicals. It is important that you treat each metal with care to ensure that it lasts a long time. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Kennon Young
Certified Jeweler

Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.}
- Clean gold with a soft cloth and a commercial gold cleaner. Avoid soap and chlorine. ^{[2]
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  Research source}
- Silver usually needs a clean cloth and some water. You can also buy special silver cleaners.
- Diamonds need a special cleaning solution. Visit a jeweler or search online for diamond-specific cleaning products. ^{[3]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Gemological Institute of America
  Nonprofit institute responsible for gemological research and education and setting gemstone buying and selling standards
  Go to source}
- For cheap rings—the kind you might buy in a dollar store—use only your fingers to scrape off the grime.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Rings with Toothpaste

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1
Find some cheap toothpaste. Make sure that the toothpaste contains baking soda and fluoride. The higher the concentration of Tin (II) fluoride, the better it is for metals. Tin (II) fluoride is used to strengthen both metals and tooth enamel. The cheaper the brand of the toothpaste, the better it will work.
- Ensure the toothpaste is a white toothpaste without gelling or conducting agents in it, as it may ruin the metal.
2
Squeeze the toothpaste onto a toothbrush along with a small amount (2-3 drops) of water. Use a clean toothbrush, and do not use the toothbrush on your teeth afterward. Gently rub the toothpaste into the jewelry as though you were brushing your teeth. If it gets gummy, add more water.
- Make sure to clean between any cracks or ridges in your ring. Use the toothbrush like you would use it on your teeth, brushing gently, firmly, and thoroughly.
- You should clean your ring every few weeks to months, depending on how often you wear it. Consider dedicating a toothbrush to ring-cleaning, and do not use it for anything else.
After a little while, rinse the jewelry and watch it shine! You can use oils or anti-oxidizing agents (citric acids, no-ox, tarn-x, etc.) to promote and prolong the shine. If you need heavy-duty cleaning, use denture bonding agents like Fix-O-Dent, which will practically sandblast your jewelry if you brush it lightly into the material.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Other Methods

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Try rinsing with warm water. If your ring is stained with dirt, dead skin, blood, lotion, food, or other grime, try rinsing it with water before you use more abrasive cleaning agents. Fill a bowl with clean, filtered water, and rub the ring gently between your fingers as you hold it in the water. Let your ring dry in the sun.
- Don't use towels or napkins to try to clean your ring, as they could scratch the surface or ruin any stones present. Don't pat it dry with a 100% cotton cloth.
- It's important to use thoroughly filtered water in this process. Try putting a magnet in a flour sifter, then running your tap water through that before using it to clean your ring. This will eliminate any metals containing magnetic properties—these metals are the ones that could ruin silver, gold, or other precious metals.
- If your ring seems particularly dirty, you can add a few drops of dish soap into the water and mix it in before cleaning. ^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Kennon Young
  Certified Jeweler
  
  Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.}
- Gather a bowl filled with warm water. You can mix a mild dish soap with it. The water shouldn't be too hot, as it can damage the ring.
- Gently use a toothbrush or a cotton cloth around the dirt area or if tarnishing is present. Be gentle as it will prevent scratches on the surface or loosen the diamond
- Ensure you rinse your ring far away from the strainer as it may fall into the drain.
- Avoid paper cloth or harsh towels to prevent scratches. Using a microfiber kind of cloth will be a good choice.
- Examine the ring and let it dry. If you still see tarnished areas or dirt, repeat the process with a cotton bud. Press very lightly to avoid damaging the ring.
If your ring isn't too dirty, you can swab off the grime with a cotton bud or Q-Tip. Dip the ring in lukewarm water and wipe the dirty spots. Let your ring air-dry. Do not try to scrub your ring, as this may cause damage.
Buy a cleaning product from the store that has the specified precious metals in your ring on the label—it should be easy to find. Look for a cleaner that comes with a cloth for application. Never use any regular house cleaner to clean rings, especially if your ring is made with any precious metals. Use a cleaner, not a polishing element, which serves a different purpose altogether. ^{[5]
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Expert Source

Kennon Young
Certified Jeweler

Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.}
4
Soak the ring in water and ammonia. To loosen dirt and grime, let the ring sit for 20 minutes in a solution of one cup warm water and 1/4 cup ammonia. ^{[6]
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- Rinse the ring in soapy water.
- Scrub the ring.
- Rinse in warm water and leave to dry.
5
Follow these steps to rid your ring of tarnish: ^{[7]
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- Wrap the inside of a bowl with aluminum foil.
- Mix one cup of warm water and one tablespoon of baking soda in the foil.
- Place your ring in the water-soda mix, making sure it touches the foil.
- Leave your ring in the mixture for 10-30 minutes, or until it is free of tarnish.
Brush a coat of clear nail polish onto the ring so that the coat of gold or silver doesn't wear off, and so that rust doesn't grow on it. If your ring leaves green or colored marks on your finger, coat the inside with a light layer of nail polish to prevent staining.
7
Consider taking your ring to a jeweler. If the ring is very important to you (e.g. a wedding ring or a class ring), consider taking it to a jeweler to be professionally polished. Most stores will provide a free cleaning or give you a solution and polishing cloth to use. ^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Kennon Young
Certified Jeweler

Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.}
- A jeweler can test for the presence of precious metals, as well as the quality of those metals. This information will help the jeweler decide which cleaning agents are safe to use.
- Jeweler has a professional jewelry cleaning kit that is used for cleaning and checking delicate and high-quality jewelry metal without ruining it. And can help to bring back its sparkle.
- This is especially important for engraved rings. Cleaning a ring with engravings on it could potentially wipe off the inscription or design. If your ring has important engravings on it, take it to a jeweler.
- Even if your ring gets loosened with a diamond or gemstone or has a pearl in it, the jeweler can fix the problem and make your ring as perfect as new.
8
Clean your ring with alcohol swabs. Make sure not to scrub too hard. If the grime doesn't come off when you wipe it, you may need to try a heavier-duty solution.
- Buy alcohol swabs. They will be available in every pharmacy near where you are.
- Take out your ring from your hand and if there is too much tarnishing or dirt buildup, then let it rinse with some water. Make sure to let it completely dry before cleaning with alcohol swabs.
- Take an alcohol swab and gently wipe the entire surface of the ring. Focus on areas where dirt and oils tend to build up, such as around the stone setting and inside the band.
  - The swabs are pre-soaked in isopropyl alcohol, making them convenient for drying and polishing after cleaning.
  - If your ring has minute, detailed designs or a stone setting, gently use the swab to reach into all the tiny corners. The alcohol will evaporate quickly, ensuring those areas dry thoroughly without leaving any residue behind.
9
Use an ultrasonic cleaner. Ultrasonic cleaning machines can clean jewelry in a matter of minutes using high-frequency sound. You can find these machines in a variety of models and prices. They can be a convenient way to quickly clean your jewelry at home. However, ultrasonic cleaners can damage some jewelry.
- Your local jeweler can tell you if an ultrasonic cleaning machine is right for your jewelry and recommend an appropriate model.

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Warnings

Do not leave your ring in water for longer than the recommended cleaning times. If your ring spends too much time underwater, it runs the risk of rusting.

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Be careful with engraved rings. Cleaning a ring with engravings on could potentially wipe off the inscription or design.

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Don't press too hard, and do not use especially abrasive cleaning agents if you aren't sure that they're safe to use with the metal.

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Never use bleach, chlorine, or harsh chemicals to clean your fine jewelry.

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If your jewelry has colored stones or pearls, always check that they are securely fitted. Loose stones might fall out during the cleaning process.

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Do not use regular towels or paper towels to dry or polish your jewelry. They can scratch the metal or leave behind fibers that dull the shine.

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If your jewelry has high sentimental value or is very delicate, consult a professional jeweler for cleaning.

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Alcohol is safe for use on every metal if you don't leave the ring immersed for longer than the recommended cleaning times. However, if your ring contains softer stones like opals or pearls, avoid alcohol, as it can damage them.

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If you are trying a new cleaning method, make sure you know exactly what your jewelry is made of, and always proceed with caution. Trials are best performed on smaller or less valuable items of jewelry, or metals of a similar type. ^{[9]
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How to Clean Rings

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