When it comes to the most expensive pieces of jewelry you’ve ever owned, like your diamond engagement ring, you should take care of them often. How about using items around your house to clean rings at home? It’s affordable and gives instant results.
Jewelry cleaners can run upwards of $6, which isn’t bad, but almost free is better. If you’re looking for a good jewelry cleaner that works, you may be surprised at what you find here. (Banana jewelry cleaner, anyone?!)
Regardless of the method used, always bring a gentle touch when cleaning your diamond engagement ring. If you’re not careful, you could loosen the diamond or scratch the metal.
Check out these 14 DIY ways to clean your diamond engagement ring at home with household items. Download The Krazy Coupon Lady app for more tips and the best jewelry deals.
1. How to clean rings with ketchup — especially great for polishing tarnished silver.
Ketchup can completely transform your tarnished silver engagement ring within 15 minutes, thanks to the acid from the tomatoes and vinegar. Submerge your ring in a shallow bowl of ketchup and let sit for five to 10 minutes (don’t leave it in too long or the acid could cause damage).
Remove the ring and scrub it with a super soft (and clean) toothbrush. Rinse with warm water, dry, and you’re good to go
Use ketchup coupons to save money on this DIY cleaner for your diamond engagement ring.
2. Use beer as a jewelry cleaner to make your gold shine.
Pour a bit of lager on a soft, clean cloth and gently rub your ring — but not your diamond. Then dry the band.
Hops used in beer brewing contain alpha acids that help to polish dirt and grime off gold jewelry. Lighter beers contain fewer hops, so the acidity is just right to polish the metal while protecting your ring.
A couple things to note: don’t use a dark beer, and make sure your diamond engagement ring is solid gold or gold-plated without gemstones.
See all beer coupons.
3. How to clean rings with vodka: just pour and wipe.
Did you know you can sometimes get cash-back offers on vodka via the Ibotta app? It’s common to see offers like $2 off a bottle of vodka. Next time you’re craving a cocktail (or need a DIY ring cleaner), check these Ibotta deals first.
4. Apply vinegar and tea tree oil for any type of metal.
Leave the ring soaking overnight. In the morning, take the ring out and clean it with a toothbrush that has a little baking soda on it. Wash and rinse with water.
5. Lemon juice, water, and dry instant milk is a great DIY ring cleaner for silver.
6. How to clean silver rings with a banana (yes!).
Blend a banana with water to make a DIY ring cleaner paste. Apply the paste to the ring using a toothbrush or a soft cloth. Let the banana paste dry, rinse with water, and pat dry.
Use produce coupons to save the next time you head to the store.
7. Use Windex with hydrogen peroxide to clean a silver or gold ring.
Let your diamond engagement ring sit in the solution for 10 – 15 minutes. After that, use a soft toothbrush to remove any extra built-up residue. Then rinse the ring and dry with a clean cloth.
8. Clean rings with dish soap and warm water.
This trick will work for your platinum, gold, white gold, and silver diamond engagement rings. It’s the most highly recommended method for cleaning rings across the board. (See the FAQ at the end of this article.)
Use a few drops of Dawn dish soap and warm water. Soak your jewelry for 20 – 40 minutes, and use a gentle toothbrush to scrub the ring. Rinse and dry.
9. Use SimpleGreen to clean all metal types.
Spray Simple Green on your diamond engagement ring, then gently scrub with a toothbrush. Rinse with warm water and dry. I do this every couple days to keep my ring sparkling bright.
10. Apply toothpaste and a toothbrush on any type of metal.
It’s best to use a mild toothpaste for cleaning your gold objects. Tooth-whitening pastes can potentially damage your jewelry, so stay away from those.
11. Clean gold rings with sodium-free seltzer water or club soda.
12. How to clean gold rings with a denture tablet (weird, but it works!)
13. Use baking soda and water to remove tarnish from silver.
To polish gold jewelry, cover it with a light coating of baking soda and pour a bit of white vinegar over it. Then rinse clean.
14. Polish silver with aluminum foil and baking soda.
The tarnish will transfer from the jewelry to the foil. You may need to flip or move the jewelry around so all sides come in contact with the foil. Remove your ring and rinse it well with water.
15. Buy the best reviewed ring cleaner under $10 on Amazon and do it the old-fashioned way.
The Connoisseurs Precious Jewelry Cleaner is only $5.55 (at the time of this writing). It has 4.5 stars with over 59,000 Amazon ratings. Reviewers note that they can’t tell the difference between a professional cleaning and this ring cleaner. They also say there’s no residue left after you use it.
It works for gold, white gold, and platinum. For white gold, be sure not to let it soak overnight so as not to rub off your ring’s rhodium plating.
How to Clean Rings: Frequently Asked Questions
How to clean diamond rings:
First, never use toothpaste (or any other abrasive) on a diamond. Never use bleach, although an ammonia solution is fine.
Beyond that, a mild detergent like dish soap and warm water along with a soft bristle toothbrush to gently scrub works just fine. Make sure to clean the back of the diamond if you can access it. That’s one spot where dirt and grime likes to accumulate.
How to clean Moissanite rings:
You’ll want to clean your Moissanite ring at least once a month to keep it from looking overly dull. Dish soap, warm water, and a toothbrush work.
How to clean an opal ring:
For opals, a mild soap and water wash with a toothbrush scrub works just fine, too. Never ever use an ultrasonic cleaner on your opal, as the stone can crack from the vibrations. Don’t use bleach, cleaners, or chemicals either. Doublets or triplets can become damaged from water.
How to clean a tungsten ring:
Dish soap and warm water works on tungsten rings, too. Let your ring soak in the solution if it has stubborn residue that won’t come off after you gently use a toothbrush.
How to clean a pure titanium ring:
Like the other methods, gentle is best here. Soak in a combination of warm water and mild soap for five minutes. Remove any remaining dirt with a soft cloth.