How often do you do it?

[looking4carats]

I was wondering how often do you guys steam clean your diamonds? Do you do it at home or take it to a store? How safe is it?
Can you do it as often as you want?

 

[Lorelei]

We are all cleaning freaks here! Some PS ers have recently bought an ultrasonic cleaning machine and have good results with them. I don''t know too much about the steamers, but you can safely clean your diamond as many times as you want, most of us do ours daily using various methods. Do a search for steam cleaning and see what pops up. Sorry I can''t be of any more help. I think steam cleaning is very safe, more chance of an injury to the person rather than the diamond or ring.

 

[pearcrazy]

I''ll usually clean my diamonds about once a week or more often if I''m going out for a night with DH or the girls. Gotta have those rocks sparkling in the restaurant lights!! I have a el-cheapo ultrasonic cleaner that uses an ammonia solution but I''ve found that soaking them in a liquid laundry detergent solution and brushing with a baby toothbrush does just as well if not better for me. I work in a dental office and we have a large powerful ultrasonic cleaner for processing instruments so if I need any heavy duty cleaning I''ll bring them in and use it.

Still, nothing seems to beat the steam cleaning that my jeweler gives it when I go in there. It''s probably his lighting but when he gives me back my jewelry after he''s cleaned it I swear there are sparks flying off of it!

 

[mrssalvo]

here''s the thread all about ultrasonics a bunch of folks jumped in with their cleaning methods, how often etc. you might find it helpful..

 

[glaucomflecken]

LOL at the title of the thread...sorry I had to chuckle!!!

I clean daily!!!!

 

[butterfly 17]

In the beginning, when we first got married, once, twice, even three times a day, but now that we have been married for 12 years, three times a week, it really depends on how tired we are and if we have work, etc., although I have to say, when I was pregnant, boy was I hor.......

Oh, sorry, I got confused with the title!!

I use the US usually right after I have worn the rings, so that when I need them the again, they are already cleaned. About Once or twice a week only because I don''t wear alot since having the baby.

 

[AndyRosse]

Date: 11/20/2005 9:59:32 AM
Author: butterfly 17
In the beginning, when we first got married, once, twice, even three times a day, but now that we have been married for 12 years, three times a week, it really depends on how tired we are and if we have work, etc., although I have to say, when I was pregnant, boy was I hor.......

Oh, sorry, I got confused with the title!!

I use the US usually right after I have worn the rings, so that when I need them the again, they are already cleaned. About Once or twice a week only because I don''t wear alot since having the baby.

LOL!!!!!

 

[looking4carats]

LOL !! i was hoping it would get your attetion Thank you for the responses i was afraid i was cleaning it too much!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/20/2005 11:54:59 AM
Author: looking4carats

LOL !! i was hoping it would get your attetion Thank you for the responses i was afraid i was cleaning it too much!!!

Not in my book, I sometimes do mine 3 times a day

 

[squarediamondlove]

I'm very anal about how clean my ring is, so I clean it everyday. (Hate when people touch the table of my stone)

I Sometimes clean it with just a jewelry solution. Other times I will also steam it with my Starbucks capuchino machine. However, when I go get it steam cleaned in jewelry stores, nothing compairs. I see so much more detail in my stone when it gets professionally steamed. I do that every time I come across a jewelry store (about once every 2 weeks).

I am kind of cautious of US b/c I have a princess and I am afraid the edges will get damaged b/c of the friction.

I am also curious to know if steaming is safe. I was wondering whether the heat makes the medal expand and contract, thus eventually loosening the prongs that the diamond sits on?

 

[Kaleigh]

I clean it everyday, and get it steam cleaned probably once a month. I use the UC maybe twice a week, maybe 3 times but not more. The hubby and kids are not happy with it''s sound and the dogs don''t care for it either. So I use it when the dogs are outside and the fam isn''t home. Pain in my butt!!!

It does do a great job too bad it can''t be more quiet.

 

[Mara]

We..I mean I clean my rings once a day with the Ultrasonic...if I am hugely rushed one morning I won''t have time but 99% of the time it''s once in the morning.

I just love that little machine, I''m obsessed. When people come over I want to clean their rings too.

 

[glamgirl]

Mara what kind of ultra sonic do you have? Does it have any special features?

 

[Kaleigh]

Mara has the Sharper Image Ultra sonic cleaner as do I. Glamgirl read the thread that mrssalvo listed above. All you questions should be answered there. It''s great!!

 

[squarediamondlove]

Can any one please answer 2 questions I have about ultrasonic:

(1) Does it get your ring just as sparkling clean as the professional steamer in the jewelry stores, or is the steamer slightly better?
(2) Do you think it would be more risky to use ultrasonic on a princess cut, if you are cleaning it daily?

 

[Shay37]

Date: 11/20/2005 9:59:32 AM
Author: butterfly 17
In the beginning, when we first got married, once, twice, even three times a day, but now that we have been married for 12 years, three times a week, it really depends on how tired we are and if we have work, etc., although I have to say, when I was pregnant, boy was I hor.......

Oh, sorry, I got confused with the title!!

I use the US usually right after I have worn the rings, so that when I need them the again, they are already cleaned. About Once or twice a week only because I don''t wear alot since having the baby.

ROFLMAO!!!!! Okay, Kayla, that one made me snort.

I clean mine everyday.

shay

 

[Mara]

Why would cleaning a princess stone in an ultrasonic be more risky??

for me the US gets it as clean as when it''s professionally cleaned. the difference between hand cleaning it even daily and using the US for me is like night and day. Shocking really. And the unit was only $40!!

 

[Kojack]

Has anyone used or have the Jewel Jet I have seen advertised? If so, would you consider it better then the US from Sharper Image??

 

[platinumrock]

Well, if you must know....every chance I get. At home, at work, in the car. I can''t help myself!!!

We''re talking about diamonds, right?

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 11/21/2005 8:10:16 PM
Author: Kojack
Has anyone used or have the Jewel Jet I have seen advertised? If so, would you consider it better then the US from Sharper Image??

i bought one from Wink,it takes 2 min to warm up and it works great.if the ring is really dirty i use a heated ultrasonic.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Date: 11/20/2005 12:22:35 PM
Author: Kaleidoscopic
I''m very anal about how clean my ring is, so I clean it everyday. (Hate when people touch the table of my stone)

Why is it people feel compelled to do this???? I was teaching a seminar this weekend and the lighting in the room was perfect for my rings!!! During the break, all the women wanted to "see" my rings. As I held my hand out for them to look, almost all of them proceeded to touch the baguettes and put their thumb on the table of my EC!!!!

Why do people have to do that???

In answer to the title of your thread, I steam clean and ultrasonic mine almost every day!!! I like to keep the table of my EC fingerprintless!!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 11/22/2005 9:25:07 AM
Author: AChiOAlumna

Date: 11/20/2005 12:22:35 PM
Author: Kaleidoscopic
I''m very anal about how clean my ring is, so I clean it everyday. (Hate when people touch the table of my stone)

Why is it people feel compelled to do this???? I was teaching a seminar this weekend and the lighting in the room was perfect for my rings!!! During the break, all the women wanted to ''see'' my rings. As I held my hand out for them to look, almost all of them proceeded to touch the baguettes and put their thumb on the table of my EC!!!!

Why do people have to do that???

I can comiserate, I have a friend who always pokes the table with her little finger on my diamond

it makes me savage

She does do it daintily however, but I don''t want her oils on it - bless her

Hubby sometimes does it on purpose as it knows that is a fast way to wind me up - he''s cruising.........

 

[blodthecat]

On the subject of cleaning.

I contacted my jewellery and this is the advice he gave me.

A pan of boiling water, then add washing up liquid (more than you would use to do the dishes)

Then boil for 5 mins and then rinse. If your ring is very dirty, use a soft interdental brush to gentle ease off any dirt. This is completely safe for diamonds...but do not boil other gemstones.

Try it...it''s completely safe and cheap...and boy what results ! Works much better than my sonic.


dyanne

 

[jcrow]

Date: 11/20/2005 12:45:37 PM
Author: Mara

I just love that little machine, I''m obsessed. When people come over I want to clean their rings too.

that''s so funny! i do the same thing. deal is i don''t have an e-ring yet so i know they must think i am nuts wanting to clean theirs...

 

[squarediamondlove]

Date: 11/22/2005 10:38:17 AM
Author: jcrow

Date: 11/20/2005 12:45:37 PM
Author: Mara

I just love that little machine, I'm obsessed. When people come over I want to clean their rings too.

that's so funny! i do the same thing. deal is i don't have an e-ring yet so i know they must think i am nuts wanting to clean theirs...

That is SOOOO funny and cute!

I also don't understand people that want great good quality stones and cuts but then never clean them. What's with that?
Also, one of my friend's rings was dirty (like a cloud) and she attempted to clean it by putting it in her mouth!

. Well I have to say it did sparkle more than before. lol!

 

[Leila]

Date: 11/20/2005 9:59:32 AM
Author: butterfly 17
In the beginning, when we first got married, once, twice, even three times a day, but now that we have been married for 12 years, three times a week, it really depends on how tired we are and if we have work, etc., although I have to say, when I was pregnant, boy was I hor.......

Oh, sorry, I got confused with the title!!

I use the US usually right after I have worn the rings, so that when I need them the again, they are already cleaned. About Once or twice a week only because I don't wear alot since having the baby.

OMG Kayla! HAHA!!!

I used to be obsessive and clean it everyday in the US but now it's only on a weekly basis, sometimes even less frequent because I take my ring off when I shower, cook, put on lotion, wash my hands--it hardly gets dirty. I use the canned air spray too.

 

[koko]

I have the sharper image ultrasonic cleaner that Mara has. I''ve found it doesn''t clean my ec. nearly as well as the steamer at my jeweler''s does, even though I followed the directions and use a drop of dishwashing detergent and a cap full of windex. I''m considering steaming mine at home with the teakettle to see how that does. I''ve heard that the ultrasonic is safe unless the stone has a large feather (crack), then it could get larger over time with use of the ultrasonic cleaner. Also, I''ve read never to boil diamonds, but rather let them soak in very hot water with a drop of dishwashing detergent, then clean with a baby toothbrush. There is nothing more gorgeous that a sparkling clean diamond

 

[koko]

Oh, forgot to mention I "do it" (clean it) once a week with the ultrasonic, but do a quick "touch up" with the baby toothbrush/toothpaste or a quick soak at least every other day.....the ec. can look dingy very quickly......

 

[Lorelei]

Koko, I have heard that toothpaste isn''t the best thing to clean diamond rings with, apparently it won''t harm the diamond but it might be too abrasive for the setting and dull it, just a thought.

 

[koko]

Thanks Lorelei, I thought of that so I got a gentle baking soda toothpaste by Arm & Hammer....I have more of a problem getting it off the bottom of the stone, so I have to use very little toothpaste followed by very hot water & a baby toothbrush to remove it....but it sure does sparkle!!