12 Ways to Clean a Diamond Ring at Home

Diamond rings are not just expensive pieces of jewelry, often times they also hold great personal or sentimental value. Whether it’s an engagement ring, a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation or just a gift to yourself, seeing your diamond ring lose its beauty and vibrance is never a good feeling. This is why knowing how to safely clean your diamond ring at home is so important. In this post we will explain step by step 12 different methods to clean a diamond ring at home.

​Why does my diamond look cloudy and dull?

If you are the proud owner of a diamond ring, you may have noticed that it’s shine and sparkle has dimmed over time. Do not worry. This is a very common phenomenon, especially if you wear your diamond ring often. Throughout your daily routine your diamond ring might come into contact with many different substances like hairspray, lotion, makeup, or perfume that leave behind residue and collect dirt. Slowly these layers of dirt and residue build up and make your diamond look cloudy and dull. This could even cause your ring to tarnish. When this happens, the only way to make your diamond ring shine like new again is to clean it.

How can I make my diamond ring sparkle and shine again?​

You might think restoring the sparkle and shine of a diamond ring requires cleaning by a professional jeweler, but most of the time you can achieve the same results through home cleaning. There are many DIY diamond ring cleaners that you can easily make at home with common household items like dish soap and Windex. You can also use machines like ultrasonic cleaners and steam cleaners if you want a thorough cleaning but don't have time to do it yourself. Many of these options will save you time and money in addition to leaving your diamond ring beautifully restored.​

A Few Notes About Cleaning Diamond Rings​

Note 1: When scrubbing soft metals like gold and silver you may want to use a soft cloth or cotton swab instead of a toothbrush. Scrubbing with a toothbrush that is too hard can cause scratches to soft metal and gemstones.

Note 2: The materials used in your ring play a big factor in which method will work best. Not all the methods on this list work for all metal types or rings with gemstones other than diamonds. Make sure you read the full description of each method to know what ring types can safely be cleaned.

Note 3: Some of the methods on this list like the ammonia and alcohol methods are only meant to be used rarely for deep cleanings. These methods can be harmful to your ring if used too often. Other methods like the dish soap method can be used more regularly for general cleaning.​

12 Ways to Clean a Diamond Ring at Home​

The list below contains 12 ways to safely and easily clean a diamond ring at home.  Read through each description and follow the step by step breakdowns carefully. You will be amazed by the results!

1. Dish Soap and Water​

This is probably the best and safest method to clean a diamond ring at home. This DIY diamond ring cleaner works great for all metal types (silver, gold, platinum, palladium, etc.). It is super easy to make and won't damage your precious ring. We really like this method for cleaning white gold and platinum diamond rings.

Step 1: Make a solution with warm water and dish soap. You can use whatever mild dish soap you have at home, but we prefer Dawn.

• Shampoo or body wash can also be used as long as it’s not moisturizing.
• Moisturizing products will leave a film on your ring.
• If you want to make the solution a little stronger add a few drops of ammonia.

Step 2: Soak the ring in the solution for about 20 - 40 minutes.

Step 3: Gently scrub the diamond with a very soft toothbrush.

Step 4: Rinse the ring off with warm water.

Step 5: Repeat steps 1 - 4 if needed.

Step 6: Dry the ring with a soft cloth.

• If you have time, you can also let your ring air dry.
• Avoid using paper towels because they can scratch the metal.​

2. Ammonia and Water

One question we get a lot is, “How do I clean my diamond ring with ammonia?” Ammonia is a very strong cleaner, but it is caustic. Overuse will cause your ring to wear down over time. In order to prevent this from happening, you should only use ammonia sparingly for deep cleans. Ammonia is also harmful to your skin, so always wear gloves when cleaning with ammonia.

This method works well for metals like gold and silver. Ammonia also works well on natural diamonds, but it should not be used to clean diamonds that have a lot of inclusions. You also should avoid this method when cleaning platinum or rings that contain pearls.

Step 1: Make a solution that is 1 part ammonia to 6 parts water.

• Stir the solution well to make sure it is evenly mixed.

Step 2: Soak the ring for no more than 1 minute.

• Don’t let it sit for too long, because your ring will slowly start to corrode.
• Use a small hand strainer to retrieve your ring from the solution, or pour the solution and ring into a large strainer.

Step 3: Rinse the ring with water.

• Make sure you clog the sink so you don’t accidentally lose your ring down the drain.

Step 4: Gently dry the ring with a soft cloth.

3. Windex and Hydrogen Peroxide Solution

​This is another good DIY diamond ring cleaner that is easy to make at home. It works really well on silver and gold diamond rings. The Windex removes any dirt and grime while the peroxide kills all the harmful bacteria on your ring. Using this method will have your ring sparkling like brand new.

Step 1: Make a solution that is half and half Windex and hydrogen peroxide.

• You only need enough solution to cover your ring.

Step 2: Soak the ring in the solution for about 10 - 15 minutes.

Step 3: Gently scrub the ring with a soft toothbrush.

Step 4: Rinse the ring off with warm water.

Step 5: Repeat steps 1 - 4 if needed.

Step 6: Dry the ring with a soft cloth.​

4. Jewelry Cleaner Liquid

There are many different brands of jewelry cleaner liquid for all metal types. Research which one works best for your ring type. Make sure it is non-abrasive and non toxic. Cleaners with harsh chemicals could cause discoloration to your diamond. Always follow the directions provided with the cleaner. We found this Simple Shine Jewelry Cleaner works really well, and it is biodegradable.

​5. Alcohol

This is a good method for cleaning silver, gold and platinum rings, but it is not good for cleaning rings with certain types of gemstones. Some gemstones are water or oil based. Alcohol can dry these stones out and cause them to crack. Alcohol does work well on hard stones like diamonds.

​Step 1: Fill a small bowl with 91% isopropyl alcohol.

• Add just enough that it will fully submerge your ring.

Step 2: Use a soft cloth or cotton swab to wipe away any visible dirt or grime of the ring.

Step 3: Place the ring in the bowl and let it soak in the alcohol overnight.

Step 4: Remove the ring from the bowl and let it air dry.

Step 5: Polish the ring with a soft cloth after it has dried.

6. Baking Soda

​Baking soda is a really good cleaner, because it makes dirt and grease easy to dissolve in water. This cleaner works well for rings made from harder metals like platinum and palladium. It is also safe to use on hard stones like diamonds. However, baking soda is abrasive, so it will scratch up softer metals and gemstones.

Step 1: Pour 1 cup of hot water into a small bowl.

Step 2: Add 1 - 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and mix the solution until the baking soda dissolves.

• This doesn't have to be exact, but you don't want the solution to be too thick or pasty.

Step 3: Place the ring in the bowl, and let it soak in the solution for 5 - 10 minutes.

Step 4: Remove the ring from the bowl, and gently scrub away any remaining dirt with a soft toothbrush.

Step 5: Rinse your ring with cool water, and dry it off with a soft cloth.​

7. Toothpaste

Another good household item that can also be used to clean diamond rings is toothpaste. Be careful when using this method though, because toothpaste is slightly abrasive. It will scratch soft metals like gold and silver. However, this method works really well on hard gemstones like diamonds and hard metals like platinum and palladium.

Step 1: Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to a soft toothbrush.

Step 2: Gently brush all sides of the diamond to remove dirt and grime.

• Do not scrub the band with toothpaste or you could scratch it.

Step 3: Rise your ring with warm water.

• Make sure all the toothpaste residue is gone.

Step 4: Dry your ring with a soft cloth.

8. Ketchup

You might be surprised, but ketchup is actually great for polishing tarnished silver. With this super easy method you can restore the sparkle and shine of your ring in just a few minutes. The best part is this method is totally free if you already have this common condiment in your home.

Step 1: Pour some ketchup into a small bowl.

• You only need enough to cover your ring.

Step 2: Submerge the ring in the ketchup for about 5-10 minutes.

• Don’t let it sit for too long. The tomatoes and vinegar used to make ketchup are acidic and can cause damage to your ring.

Step 3: Use a soft brush to rub the ketchup in all the crevices.

• This step is only necessary if your ring has a very textured or detailed design.

Step 4: Rinse the ring with lukewarm water.

Step 5: Dry the ring with a soft cloth.

9. Boiling Water

This method works great for all metal types, but take caution if your ring has stones in it other than diamonds. Boiling is not good for rings with soft stones like opals, pearls, coral, and moonstones. It can cause them to crack, especially if the stone is very cold beforehand. Boiling is also not good for rings with glued in stones, because it can loosen the glue and cause the stones to fall out. However, hard stones like diamonds can be boiled without issue.

Step 1: Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil.

• You don't need a lot of water, just enough to cover your ring.

Step 2: While the water pot heats up, find a dish to place the ring in.

• The dish needs to be made from a material that won't be harmed by boiling water like metal or Pyrex.

Step 3: Pour the boiling water into the dish with the ring.

• Be careful not to splash or spill the water and burn yourself.

Step 4: Wait for the water to cool, then remove the ring.

• While your ring is soaking, you may notice the water become dirty. This means it is working.
• Before you remove your ring, make sure the water is cool enough that you can safely put your hand in it.

Step 5: Scrub the ring with a soft toothbrush to remove any remaining dirt or grime.

Step 6: Dry the ring with a soft cloth.

10. Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner

This is a quick and easy method for cleaning all metal types. Ultrasonic cleaners are also good for cleaning hard stones like diamonds, but you’ll want to avoid cleaning any rings that also incorporate soft stones like opal, oral, or pearls. These cool little machines use ultrasonic vibrations to loosen and remove dirt from jewelry. They are very convenient and will save you the time of having to hand scrub your ring. Check out our post on the best ultrasonic jewelry cleaners.

Step 1: Prepare the cleaning bath and power up the ultrasonic cleaner.

• You can use ultrasonic cleaners with just water, but if you want to increase the effectiveness, use a simple homemade jewelry cleaner like water and dish soap or use ultrasonic cleaning liquid.

Step 2: Place your ring in the tank and let the cleaner run.

• Use a ring holder so your ring and its stones are not damaged by banging against the tank.
• You can let the cleaner run as long as you like, but a few minutes is good for most routine cleanings.

Step 3: Power off the ultrasonic cleaner and remove the ring.

• When you open the cleaner to remove your ring, you should see all the dirt and grime floating at the top of the tank.

Step 4: Brush off the ring with a soft brush or cloth to remove any leftover dirt.

Step 5: Rinse the ring with cold water, and dry it with a soft cloth.

11. Jewelry Steam Cleaner

A jewelry steam cleaner is another jewelry cleaning machine you can use to clean diamond rings at home. Steam cleaners work by using high pressure steam to blast away any dirt or grime that may have collected on jewelry. Like ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners basically do the work for you. This method works well with all types of metals and hard stones like diamonds. It should not be used for rings containing soft stones and diamonds with a lot of inclusions.

Step 1: Fill the steam cleaner’s water tank with room temperature water.

Step 2: Power on the machine and let it run for a cycle to warm up.

Step 4: Place the ring in the basket and let run for a cycle.

• Run an additional cycle if your ring is really dirty.

Step 5: Remove the ring from the basket and rinse with water.

Step 6: Dry the ring with a soft cloth.

12. Glued Rings

Rings with stones that are glued into their setting should be kept as dry as possible. Water can loosen the glue and cause the stones to fall out. Avoid total submersion of glued rings in any solution.  For this method, we will also use a chemical free solution that is safe for all metal types.

Step 1: Make a solution with dish soap and water in a small bowl.

• You can make the same solution used in method 1.
• Do not place your ring in the bowl.

Step 2: Dip a soft cloth into the solution, then gently scrub the ring.

Step 3: Use a different cloth dampened with water to wipe the solution off the ring.

Step 4: Let the ring air dry.

• It's best to hang your ring upside down while it dries so that all the moisture drips out instead of soaking into the setting.

How often do you clean a diamond ring?

In order to prevent your diamond ring from dulling or tarnishing, it is best to come up with a good cleaning and maintenance routine. A basic home cleaning can be done weekly with a safe chemical free solution like the dish soap and water solution used in the first method. For a deeper cleaning, you should take your ring to a professional jeweler once or twice a year, maybe more depending on how dirty your ring gets.

What should NOT be used to cleaning your diamond ring?

Vinegar