Ring cleaning guide: How to clean diamond rings and more

Posted on: 21/03/2025

Whether you’re reviving an old favourite or maintaining a new engagement ring, ring care and cleaning are essential for keeping that beautiful sparkle. Not only does regular ring cleaning have aesthetic benefits, but it’s a key aspect of jewellery hygiene and can even extend the lifespan of your accessories. 

While you can have your jewellery professionally cleaned, taking some time to clean and maintain accessories yourself can be just as effective and save you money too. To help you keep your favourite rings dazzling, we’ve put together a thorough guide on how to clean rings at home. We’ve also rounded up some of the best ring care tips,  so you can enjoy your favourite accessories for years to come. 

• How often should you clean your rings?
• How to clean rings by type
• How to clean diamond rings
• How to clean platinum rings
• How to clean silver rings
• How to clean gold rings
• How to clean rings with stones
• Ring care tips and advice
• How to store your rings
• When to take off your rings
• When to get your ring professionally cleaned
• Check your ring still fits
• Get ring insurance

How often should you clean your rings? 

This largely depends on how often the accessory is worn. For rings worn regularly, you should clean them every two to three weeks to prevent the build-up of dirt and oils from dulling their shine. For accessories worn infrequently, your ring cleaning schedule may look a little different. Although they won’t be affected by dirt and oils like your regularly worn pieces, dust can settle in the crevices of your accessories and leave them looking less dazzling. It’s best to clean lesser-worn rings every four months to prevent dust build-up.  

How to clean rings by type 

Cleaning your jewellery may feel like a daunting task, especially when it comes to taking care of your most treasured pieces. After all, the last thing you want is to do more harm than good and end up damaging your favourite ring! To make the process as easy as possible, we’ve put together step-by-step instructions for how to clean rings by type. No matter the material or gemstone, you can take on ring cleaning in confidence by following the steps below. 

How to clean diamond rings 

Cleaning a diamond ring may feel like an especially important job to get right since the precious gem is so valuable. Fortunately, diamonds are the most durable gemstones around with a rating of the maximum 10 on the Mohs scale — which measures a gemstone's hardness and resistance to scratching. That being said, it’s still important to adhere to our expert guidance on how to clean a diamond ring, as exposure to certain cleaning materials, such as bleach, can damage the gems. 

One of the best ways to clean a diamond ring at home is with a dipping solution, which you can find in Chapelle stores nationwide. We offer dipping solutions for silver, gold, platinum, and diamond items, and you only need to submerge your jewellery for two minutes to bring back that sparkle. 

To use the dip, simply place the ring into the dip and leave it to soak for just two minutes. After the two minutes is up, carefully remove the jewellery from the solution and place it on a tissue. Our dipping solutions kits also come with a brush, which you can use at this stage to gently brush difficult-to-reach areas, such as engravings or settings. After this, rinse the jewellery under clean running water, dry and buff it with one of our diamond polishing cloths, and leave it to air dry fully before storing it. 

We also have an ultra-effective sonic jewellery kit, which vibrates to dislodge stubborn dirt. To use this handy tool, fill one of the tanks with warm water and the other with the solution provided diluted with water. Then turn the tool on and submerge your ring in the tank with the solution in for a couple of minutes, then move to the clean water tank for a further two minutes. Once this is done, you can use the brush provided to remove stubborn dirt if necessary, then rinse in running water, dry with a cloth, and leave the diamond ring to air dry. 

If you want to get your diamond jewellery clean ASAP, you can also clean it effectively with some household items (although it takes a little longer than using our dipping solution). Start by gathering the following cleaning essentials: 

• A bowl filled with warm (not boiling) water and a dash of washing-up liquid 
• A microfibre cloth 
• A soft-bristled toothbrush

Follow the simple steps below for the best way to clean a diamond ring using household cleaning solutions: 

1. Remove your ring and gently wipe it with a dry microfibre cloth to remove any surface dirt and residue. 
2. Create your warm water and washing up liquid solution and leave the ring to soak in this for 30 minutes. 
3. Take the ring out and use your soft-bristled toothbrush to very gently scrub the diamond and setting. Pay close attention to small nooks in the ring (such as the setting) where dirt can accumulate. 
4. Rinse the ring under running water to remove any soapy suds and dirt you have dislodged — don’t forget to put the plug in so it doesn’t end up down the sink! 
5. Pat the ring dry with a dry microfibre cloth and leave it to air dry completely before putting it away.

When you clean a diamond ring at home (and any other piece of diamond jewellery for that matter), always be sure to be as gentle as possible. Although the diamonds themselves are incredibly durable, being too harsh with them may damage the setting and cause the diamonds to become loose or even fall out completely.  

Even with careful and regular cleaning, over time the claws and settings of your diamond ring may wear down. It is worth having these checked every year or so by a professional jeweller, to keep them in top shape. After all, it is far easier (and cheaper!) to re-tip a claw than replace a lost diamond.

How to clean platinum rings 

Like diamonds, platinum is a very tough material. In fact, it is one of the most durable precious metals, making it a great choice for an everyday ring, such as a wedding band. But just like any other material and stone, it is important to clean platinum wedding rings regularly to keep them looking their best. 

With our Jewel Sparkle dipping solution, you can clean your platinum rings in minutes. Just submerge the piece in the solution provided for two minutes, rinse with running water, and leave it to air dry before storing. You can also use the brush provided to clean intricate areas with stubborn dirt before rinsing the piece. 

Wondering how to clean a platinum ring with household solutions? The good news is that it is very similar to cleaning a diamond ring with just one extra step, so once you know the steps for one, you almost know the steps for the other. Like cleaning a diamond ring, you will need to gather the following before you start: 

• A bowl filled with warm (not boiling) water and a dash of washing-up liquid 
• A microfibre cloth 
• A soft-bristled toothbrush

Simply follow the steps below to clean your platinum ring.

1. Take your ring off (or out of storage) and wipe it down with a clean, dry microfibre cloth to dislodge surface dirt and debris.
2. Fill up your bowl with warm water and a dash of washing-up liquid and leave the ring to soak for half an hour. 
3. Take the ring out and carefully clean it with a soft-bristled toothbrush, paying close attention to small, intricate areas where dirt easily builds up.
4. Put a plug in your sink and run the platinum ring under cold running water. 
5. Pat the ring dry with a clean, dry microfibre cloth.
6. Gently buff the ring with a clean cloth to restore its natural shine.

How to clean silver rings 

Silver jewellery is incredibly popular thanks to its beautiful lustre and timeless sophistication. However, the material is prone to tarnishing over time, which can dull its natural shine and leave it looking darker, with a cloudier finish. So, knowing how to clean a silver ring is especially important for the longevity of your jewellery. 

We have a specially designed Silver Sparkle dipping solution to keep your silver rings in top shape. It works in the same way as our other dipping solutions: submerge the piece for a couple of minutes, use a brush to remove stubborn dirt if needed, rinse, and dry. We also have silver anti-tarnish silver foam and cloths to leave the ring shining and provide long-lasting protection.

When it comes to your cleaning the jewellery with household items, cleaning silver is almost identical to cleaning platinum rings — the only difference is you leave silver to soak in the warm water and washing-up liquid solution for 5 minutes rather than half an hour, as leaving it wet for too long can speed up the process of tarnishing. 

However, there are additional ways to clean silver rings which can be more effective in removing tarnish. One of the most effective ways is using baking soda to treat the tarnish. To do this, you’ll need to gather the following: 

• Baking soda 
• Lukewarm water 
• A lint-free microfibre cloth
• A toothbrush

To use this method on tarnished silver rings, start by mixing three parts baking soda with one part lukewarm water until you make a paste. You can then rub this paste onto visibly tarnished parts of your ring gently with a soft wet cloth or a toothbrush. Leave the paste to sit for no longer than three minutes, then rinse the ring clean to remove the paste and buff it dry with a clean microfibre cloth. 

How to clean gold rings 

Wondering how to clean gold rings? Well, that largely depends on the type you’re working with. Not only do white gold, yellow gold, and rose gold jewellery all have different aesthetic appeals, but they have different properties too. 

The easiest way to clean any type of gold is with our jewellery cleaning essentials available in store. You can use the Jewel Sparkle dipping solution to clean gold rings, and our professional gold cleaning cloths to give them the perfect finish. These cloths come with polishing rouge included, which doesn’t just leave the jewellery sparkling but can buff out surface scratches too. 

Want to know how to clean a white gold ring, or a ring in rose or yellow gold with household items? Start by gathering the following supplies: 

• A bowl filled with warm (not boiling) water and a dash of washing-up liquid 
• A microfibre cloth 
• A soft-bristled toothbrush

Follow the steps below to do a routine clean of a gold ring at home: 

1. Give your ring a wipe down with a clean, dry cloth.
2. Fill your bowl with warm soapy water and let your gold ring soak for 15 minutes. 
3. Remove the ring from the solution and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove the remaining dirt. 
4. Rinse the jewellery under running water (with a plug in the sink).
5. Dry the jewellery with a lint-free cloth and buff it to restore its natural lustre. 

How to clean a white gold ring

White gold rings are considered the most complex to take care of as they come with rhodium plating. However, they don’t require too much extra effort, plus they come with the sophisticated beauty of platinum but usually with a smaller price tag, so they are still well worth investing in.

Over time, the rhodium plating can wear off white gold rings, especially on rings or pieces that are frequently worn, which makes the jewellery appear duller. To avoid the plating wearing off quicker than it should, take extra care when cleaning white gold accessories. The gentler you are with it, the longer you can expand the lifespan of the plating. When the time does come for your white gold ring to be re-plated, take it to a professional to restore its original brightness. Jewellers offer a rhodium plating reapplication service, which normally comes with a professional clean and polish, giving the ring a fresh look.

How to clean a yellow gold ring

Yellow gold doesn’t have plating like white gold, however, the material can tarnish over time. To clean the tarnishing off a yellow gold ring, you can use something you’ll no doubt already have in your home — toothpaste! Toothpaste is a mild abrasive, which can be effective at removing mild tarnishing. Simply mix a cup of lukewarm water with a squirt of non-gel toothpaste (about the size of a pea) and leave the gold ring to soak in this solution for five minutes. Once it has finished soaking, take the ring out and gently rub the tarnish away with a soft microfibre cloth. Use a separate cloth to pat it dry, and then leave it to air dry before putting it away. Or for an even more effective clean, use our gold polishing cloths to give the ring a buff. 

How to clean a rose gold ring

Rose gold rings don’t tarnish, however, they can gradually change colour and get a darker, more reddish hue. This is because rose gold contains copper, which oxidizes over time. There is no way to prevent this, but this colour change isn’t a bad thing. In fact, some people prefer rose gold jewellery after this change as they feel it has more character.  That being said, careful, regular cleaning using our jewellery cleaning solutions may slow down this process. 

How to clean rings with stones 

 Whether you’re wondering how to clean an engagement ring with a precious stone, or you simply have an old favourite you want to give some TLC, the way you clean your ring often depends on the type of stone you have. Every gemstone is given a Mohs Hardness rating, which translates to how durable the stone is. For example, ruby is a tough stone with a Mohs Hardness rating of 9, while pearls have a rating between 2½ and  4½, making them one of the most delicate stones. You can find out the rating of different gems by checking out the IGS Mohs Hardness Scale chart.

Like platinum, gold, and silver rings, the best way to clean rings with stones is with one of our cleaning wands and our cleaning solutions, as we’ve already covered. However, porous gemstones, such as emeralds, opals, and pearls, should never be submersed for periods of time, as they can absorb the liquids and crack. To clean porous gems, simply wipe them over with a soft dry cloth to remove dirt and oils. Always avoid using harsh chemicals around these gems, and avoid exposure to steam and extreme heat. 

It is also best to avoid using a brush on stones with a more delicate Mohs Hardness rating and use a soft cloth instead. This is because stones with a lower rating are more susceptible to scratching, so it’s important to be as gentle as possible with them. Durable gemstones like sapphire and topaz are tough enough to handle the bristles, but be wary of using them on more delicate stones like tanzanite (with a rating between 6 ½ and 7). 

 

Ring care tips and advice

You now know how to clean a ring, no matter its material or gemstone. But how else can you ensure your favourite accessories remain in top condition? Here, we’ve put together some important care tips to supplement your ring cleaning routine, so you can expand the lifespan of your jewellery. 

How to store your rings

The best way to store your rings is in the original box they came in. If you don’t have this anymore, or you never had a ring box in the first place, a jewellery box with a ring storage compartment will do the job just fine. If you are storing multiple rings in one box, avoid placing them too close together as materials of different hardness ratings rubbing against each other can lead to scratching. You should also ensure they are kept in a cool, dry place, and ideally away from sunlight as UV rays can fade the colour of some gemstones. 

Some people choose to keep their everyday rings on ring holders or jewellery trays. Although this is convenient, for valuable or sentimental pieces, it’s best to store them safely away if possible, as this can lead to the rings becoming scratched or damaged, especially if in a high-traffic area. 

When to take off your rings

You may be tempted to wear your favourite ring as much as you can, especially if it is an especially important piece like a wedding band or engagement ring. But even with cleaning and careful wear, there are some occasions when it is best to put the ring away. We would always recommend removing your ring when doing any of the following: 

• Exercising
• Swimming
• Showering or bathing 
• Applying sun cream, tan, or lotion
• Doing your skincare routine
• Getting your nails done
• Cleaning 
• Washing up
• Gardening
• Painting
• Sleeping
• Doing an intense manual job or operating machinery 

If you often need to remove your ring while out and about (such as at work), take the original ring box with you so you can store it safely. You may want to invest in a pocket-sized jewellery box if you have multiple rings to remove. And always remember, jewellery should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. This will help you avoid potentially damaging the jewellery while getting ready for the day, or during your nighttime routine. 

When to get your ring professionally cleaned 

Knowing how to clean a wedding ring, engagement ring, or any other type of ring at home is important for keeping your accessory looking great. But sometimes our favourite pieces need an extra little TLC, especially if they are vintage or they are worn a lot. You should take your ring to a professional cleaner when you notice it starts to look duller and the steps you’re taking at home aren’t improving things. You should also take it to a professional if there are particularly stubborn bits of dirt, staining, or tarnishing you can’t remove, as they will have the tools needed to remove them. 

Check your ring still fits

Over time, our fingers can change in size due to weight fluctuations, health conditions, and various other factors. It’s a good idea to check that your ring still fits properly, as wearing one that is too tight can be uncomfortable and difficult to remove, while a loose ring is at risk of slipping off and getting lost. If you notice a change in fit, visit a jeweller to have it resized accordingly. You can find out more about finding the right fit with our ring fit guide.

Get ring insurance

Last, but by no means least, you should consider getting ring insurance for your most valuable or sentimental pieces. Cleaning your engagement ring or wedding ring is vital for the longevity of your most beloved pieces of jewellery. But no matter how well you care for it, there are some things you may not be able to prevent, like loss, theft, or accidental damage. Comprehensive ring insurance can give you peace of mind by covering the cost of replacing the ring, as well as sometimes fixing it if something goes wrong, such as if you lose a stone. Be sure to research policies carefully to get the best coverage for your most valuable accessory. 

Keeping your ring clean not only maintains its sparkle but also preserves its longevity. After reading this guide, you should feel confident in knowing how to clean a ring at home to ensure it stays as brilliant as the day you got it. 

If this guide has inspired you to expand your jewellery box, make sure to check out our wide selection of rings. We have a great collection to choose from, including engagement rings and wedding bands from leading brands, all with at least 30% off the recommended retail price. We also have a beautiful selection of dazzling earrings, necklaces, and bracelets to complement your favourite rings.