Lemon juice is another old wives' tale that we're about to bust. It's a popular DIY solution, but should not be used for cleaning your jewelry. Lemon juice is very acidic and abrasive for
"The best way to clean diamond rings is to make a solution with warm water (almost hot) and dishwashing soap. Soak your ring for about 20 to 40 minutes, gently brush the stone with a very soft toothbrush, and then rinse under warm running water," advises Mann. "If needed, repeat."
Cleaning jewelry with lemon and baking soda
By simply applying lemon juice all over your jewels and rubbing the pieces with a dry cloth, the lemon will naturally brighten up your pieces. For more heavily tarnished items, try adding some baking soda to the lemon juice for an extra helping hand.
The best mixture of cleaning solution for diamonds is ammonia or mild dish detergent with water. The ratio of this solution should be a quarter cup of ammonia to one cup of lukewarm water. After mixing the solution, simply let the piece of diamond jewelry soak in the solution for 20-30 minutes.
Jewelers use ultrasonic cleaners with high frequency sound waves and chemicals, which create bubbles that latch on to the dirt on the diamond. The high frequency sound waves pull the dirt away from the stone and bring them up to the surface.
Chlorine bleach or abrasives (such as household cleansers or toothpaste) should never be used when cleaning diamond jewelry. Chemicals like chlorine can damage some of the metals used to alloy gold for diamond settings and abrasives can scratch gold and other metals.
While vinegar is slightly acidic and needs to be used with caution on more porous stones, it will do a fabulous job on your diamond ring. Simply mix a half cup of white vinegar with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Stir until the baking soda is totally dissolved, then soak your diamond ring in the solution for 2–3 hours.
The best way to clean a diamond at home is to put it into a bath of warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Let it soak for 20-40 minutes and wipe it dry with a lint-free cloth. If stubborn stuck-on dirt remains, repeat the process but scrub the ring gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush this time.
It's a common myth that toothpaste can be used to clean jewelry. However, toothpaste can easily damage your diamond ring and gemstones. Diamond might be hard and strong, but this doesn't mean it has to be cleaned using toothpaste. The chemicals in the flavor used to make toothpaste are corrosive to metals.
Lemon juice.
Place item in the bowl for 10-15 minutes. The magic element in this household hack is the acid from the lemon juice, however, if you find it hasn't eaten all of the dirt and grime away, give your jewelry a quick rinse and place it back in the mixture for a few additional minutes.
By simply applying lemon juice all over your jewels and rubbing the pieces with a dry cloth, the lemon will naturally brighten up your pieces. For more heavily tarnished items, try adding some baking soda to the lemon juice for an extra helping hand. Rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly.
2 Don't do the Duo of Lemon Juice and Vinegar
Their chemical make-up can do wonders on a number of cleaning projects but your jewelry shouldn't be one of them. Sure it can get your jewelry clean, but the acidity and abrasiveness can damage silver. Some precious stones can be damaged too.
You can soak your engagement ring for five minutes in witch hazel or white vinegar for a deeper clean. Before scrubbing with soap or a vinegar solution, be sure to rinse your ring in warm running water. You can then dry your rings with a soft cotton cloth or let them air dry in a safe place.
How Often Should You Clean a Diamond Ring? If you wear your diamond ring every day, it should be cleaned once a week to prevent dirt and oil from dulling its sparkle. Regular cleaning will also prevent grime from embedding itself into the prongs of your setting.
Rings get dirty for various reasons, the use of cosmetics being the most common one. Lotion, makeup, and even perfume can all make your diamond engagement ring look dull.
The main reason why diamonds get dirty is because we tend to touch them. Try not to touch the ring too often to prevent oil and grease from your fingers adhering to the surface of the stone. Take the ring to a professional jeweler.
DON'T Wear Your Ring in Salt Water
Rose gold is especially sensitive to salt water as it will corrode much faster than traditional yellow or white gold. Salt water can also damage the overall appearance of your diamond by dulling the stones and causing them to become less shiny.
Toothpaste, baking soda, bleach, and other household cleaners are abrasive. While they won't damage your diamond, they can damage your gold. Windex won't hurt your ring, but it isn't a great cleaner either. So stick to mild soap and water, and six-month cleanings and check-ups at your jeweler.
Submerging in Vinegar
Vinegar is another popular at-home solution for cleaning. But like lemon juice, vinegar is very acidic and will cause damage to your soft stones and plated jewelry. Soaking your jewelry in a bowl of vinegar will remove the jewelry's shine and finish.
Baking soda is great for cleaning all types of jewelry, including diamond jewelry. Mix a cup of hot water with 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda. Place the jewelry in the mix for a few minutes. Rinse, and pat dry with a clean cloth.
Diamonds are exceptionally delicate, and thus, they require the utmost care. Harsh chemicals like acetone, chlorine, bleach and other abrasive substances like baking powder and toothpaste will damage your diamond beyond repair.
You'll end up damaging your ring in the long run and put it at risk of developing loose stones or scratched diamonds. Also, make it a point to learn more about your ring's setting, metal type, and the stones so you can take care of them using the proper methods.
Will Hand Sanitizer Damage My Diamond Ring or Gemstones? Using hand sanitizer while wearing a ring won't cause immediate damage to diamonds or gemstones, but can leave a filmy residue on the stones over time, dulling the sparkle.