How To Safely Clean Your Engagement Ring At Home

The post-engagement bliss you feel is often accentuated by moments when you look down at the diamond or emerald-studded engagement ring on your finger and relive the memory of when your partner proposed. There's no feeling that comes close to showing off possibly one of the most expensive pieces of jewelry you own to friends and family. And given how much engagement rings cost, it's no wonder that you worry about keeping it safe. 

Wondering if you should take the ring off when you go to bed, if it's okay to shower with your ring on, and whether you can moisturize your hands while wearing it are likely to cross your mind, especially when you're still getting used to the new precious stone on your hand, per Vogue. 

Even though gemstones like diamonds are known to be hardy, caring for your engagement ring is still important. According to jewelry specialist and international jewelry director for Christie's Jewelry, Tom Burstein, a beautifully cut diamond is not going to serve its purpose if it's covered in grime. "If you're not cleaning it, then you're not doing the stone justice because it's not living up to its potential," he tells Vogue. 

Dirty engagement rings are also an invitation for skin irritations caused by bacteria build-up in the area (via Brides). Thanfkully, cleaning your engagement ring at home is actually a fairy simple and safe exercise. Here's how you do it.

All you need to safely clean your engagement ring are a cup of warm water, some soap or mild dishwashing liquid, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and a fresh towel (via Vogue). You should definitely avoid harsh chemicals like chlorine, bleach, and commercial cleaners, reports Glamour. Even products like toothpaste and baking soda are not recommended as cleaners, according to Brides. 

To get started, add some warm water to a small cup or bowl and mix in some regular soap or dishwashing liquid, Glamour advises. Let your ring soak in the solution for a few minutes. As jewelry expert Tom Burstein tells Vogue, soaking the engagement ring overnight is also an option. 

The owner of jewelry company Metalicious, Stephanie Maslow-Blackman, shares with Glamour that the soaking serves to "loosen any dirt, lotion, or dried soap that has settled into any crevices or behind your gemstone." 

Next, you move on to gently brushing the engagement ring with the soft toothbrush to remove any excess dirt that didn't come off with the soak (via Brides). You can then hold the ring under some warm running water. Just make sure you cover your sink's drain so that you don't inadvertantly lose your ring, Burstein warns. Finally, finish the cleaning process by patting the ring dry with a soft towel. Try not to use paper towels because they can cause scratches, according to Brides. 

Despite how much you might want to take off your precious piece of jewelry every time you wash your hands, De Beers Jewellers New York store director Daniela Balzano-Hull advises against this practice, per Vogue. This is mainly because a lot of brides lose their beautiful engagement rings by accidentally leaving them behind when they're out and about. She does, however, recommend leaving your ring at home when you go off on a trip to the beach. Engagement ring insurance is another way to ensure that you keep your jewelry safe. 

As for the frequency of cleaning your engagement ring, it depends on some factors like what kind of household chores you perform with it on your finger, per Glamour, but a general rule of thumb would be once every two weeks. You should, however, be taking your ring in to be professionally cleaned by your jeweler at least once a year. 

The entire tradition behind how rings came to be might be a part of the untold truth of engagement rings, which you might find surprising. However, safely cleaning your priceless ornament at home is not a mind-boggling process. It's pretty simple, and well worth the time and effort.