The Boiling Water Method
If you're aiming to clean heavily soiled jewelry that's made completely from gold, or gold jewelry that contains “strong” gemstones like diamonds, boiling is a good way to go.
Boiling Water
The problem isn't the water, it's the temperature. Cleaning your ring by dropping into a bath of boiling water can cause the metal to expand and contract which can loosen gemstones. The boiling water can also cause cracks and fractures to form in gemstones.
Diamond cleaning each month with commercial jewelry cleaner or even a homemade solution of mild dishwashing soap and hot water is good practice.
The best way to clean a diamond ring is with plain soap and water, no matter the type of metal. Simply, fill a bowl with equal parts warm water and gentle dishwashing soap and soak your ring for 20 to 40 minutes. Use a soft brush to remove buildup from any hairspray, lotion, makeup, perfume, etc.
Can you clean a diamond ring with vinegar? 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.
To clean diamonds, professional jewellers will use a specialised device referred to as an Ultrasonic Jewellery Cleansing Bath to get your piece sparkling once again. This device uses vibration and ultrasonic sound waves to lift the dirt and other pollutants off your diamond.
Don't use harmful solutions. Chlorine bleach or abrasives (such as household cleansers or toothpaste) should never be used when cleaning diamond jewelry.
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.
Place your jewelry into a bowl of boiling water and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Then remove leftover grime by brushing it with a soft toothbrush.
For that reason, it is recommended that you not attempt to clean your diamond by boiling it. Boiling is no more effective than other methods of cleaning and carries a greater risk of damage to the stone and to the jewelry's metal parts.
Hot water is an easy (and cheap) cleaning solution for hard metal jewelry. Steam and heat loosen dirt and debris from jewelry, making it a snap to wipe away. Simply place your pieces in a heatproof container, then slowly pour in boiling water until they're covered.
Deep boiling or deep cooking
Since acid doesn't corrode the diamond itself, but only the dirt that has entered the stone, the process allows dirt to be removed so the polished diamond looks better. Deep boiling is a long process that lasts 10-12 hours.
Boiling Water
Boiling inactivates bacteria, protozoa, viruses and other pathogens by using heat to damage them structurally. You can use this for Niobium, Titanium, stainless steel, Pyrex glass, quartz glass and bioplastic. Keep acrylic jewelry away from hot water and use other sterilization methods.
Jewelers use ultrasonic cleaners with high-frequency sound waves and chemicals to professionally remove dirt off of diamonds.
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.
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.
The short answer is no. Toothpaste is not a good option for cleaning your ring. Toothpaste contains scrubbing particles to polish your teeth, but these particles are often harder than the metals in your ring, especially gold or white gold. Using toothpaste on your jewelry could cause scratches or pitting in the metal.
You see, diamonds are a magnet for grease/oil as their surfaces muck up easily. A dirty stone doesn't sparkle because light simply can't enter the diamond and causes it to appear dull.
Despite its ruggedness, diamond can lose its sparkle with oil or dust deposited on it. To maintain the sparkling of this indestructible gemstone is a tough job, but a possible one! So, how would you keep your diamond engagement ring from losing its sparkle? Diamonds are magnets to oil and grease.
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. A gemologist can also appraise your ring so that you can insure it. Follow these easy steps to keep your engagement ring sparkling and safe!
"These harsh chemicals can break down some of the base metals in your ring," Mann says. "Also, never use any kind of abrasive products such as toothpaste, baking soda, or any powdered cleaners, which can easily scratch metals, particularly gold."
Assuming your ring is either just platinum, gold or silver and ONLY has diamonds, you can use Windex to clean it. Just put the ring in a small bowl and spray enough Windex to make sure the ring is coated, turning the ring over if necessary.