how often to clean?

[Ringsandthings]

Is cleaning your engagement ring to often a bad thing?... can it hurt the ring? I have been cleaning it once a week with 50/50 water and mr clean. in a jewelry cleaner that vibrates for 5 minutes.

Thank you.

 

[motownmama]

Unless you have something delicate, like pave, cleaning in an ultrasonic isn't going to hurt. I do anywhere for once a day to once a week.

 

[chrono]

I clean my rings everyday. If you don't have a ton of pave, it's fine to use the US everyday. On a positive note, if any melee does fall out, you'll find it in the US basket, so it won't get lost.

 

[Ringsandthings]

Bump... What's pave? It's a halo style ring with diamonds around band. It looks like it gets so dirty so fast. Is that normal haha

 

[diamondseeker2006]

You probably should ask the jeweler you bought the setting from if it is safe to put in an ultrasound cleaner often. It isn't always a good idea because the vibration can loosen some of the tiny stones (pave).

 

[Enerchi]

I have been on a blitz for the last little while that I was cleaning every other day. (I was away x 5 days so nothing was cleaned then... which made me super antsy to get back home and CLEAN Everything!!) When I can't clean, I do have alcohol swaps and if I feel my rings are dull or my hands feel gross and grimey, I just give them a swipe.

I used to NEVER clean my rings... pre PS!... but now, I'm VERY diligent about 'diamond hygiene' They just look better when they are clean!

 

[hawk25]

I clean my rings everyday. If you don't have a ton of pave, it's fine to use the US everyday. On a positive note, if any melee does fall out, you'll find it in the US basket, so it won't get lost.

I wonder, does the legato sleekline pave count as a lot of pave? If I don't get something super easy and effective (like an US), my girl will never clean it. You should see the other ring I gave her...doesn't take it off for anything

 

[momhappy]

Regular cleaning is fine. However, ultrasonic cleaning on a daily basis might be overkill (and may not be good for some pieces). I would ultrasonic clean maybe once a week and use a soft bristle toothbrush to gently clean on a daily basis. You shouldn't need to ultrasonic daily anyways. I am a stickler for clean, sparkly jewelry, so I clean daily too. I have an ultrasonic cleaner, but don't use it daily. I make sure to wash my rings with soap & water daily and/or use a soft toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach places (like under the basket of my e-ring).

 

[teobdl]

When you clean with a soft toothbrush, how do you then dry the ring/diamond? Just air dry?

Obviously this depends on how hard the water is, but it seems like a slight film would be left on it, like if you leave water on eye glasses.

 

[chrono]

Yes, air drying could leave water spots so I usually pat dry and when I have time, spray compressed air under the basket.

 

[Enerchi]

I also just bought a Jewel Jet steam cleaner - there have been a few threads on PS about Jewel Jet - and that really seems to leave my rings with a great shine & no water spots.

I bought mine thru Amazon.

 

[WinkHPD]

When you clean with a soft toothbrush, how do you then dry the ring/diamond? Just air dry?

Obviously this depends on how hard the water is, but it seems like a slight film would be left on it, like if you leave water on eye glasses.

If you are using any petroleum based product you are going to leave a light film. While we jewelers like to use a steam cleaner to blast any remaining dirt off the underside of the ring after a good soak in the ultrasonic, those can be a bit expensive.

One good substitute for a steam cleaner that is great for home use is the compressed that computer people use to blow dust from between their computer keys and out of the nooks and crannies in their computer boxes. Cheap, three or four bucks a can the last time I bought a six pack (at least five years ago and I still have one more unopened can after I finish the one I have been using the last several months.) They are also much safer than a steamer.

Wink

 

[UrsTx]

I found on eBay a home jewelry steamer from the old Sharper Image days. It's great! I steam about twice a week. I also like to keep the Connoisseur travel stick handy (in my purse, at my desk at work). It's tiny, looks like a lipgloss stick with cleaner/gel that twists out onto long bristles. It's great for getting under the stone. $7 at Walmart, some targets and some grocery stores (I go to HEB). I also give them as little gifts to my newly engaged friends to keep their rings cleaned.

 

[momhappy]

When you clean with a soft toothbrush, how do you then dry the ring/diamond? Just air dry?

Obviously this depends on how hard the water is, but it seems like a slight film would be left on it, like if you leave water on eye glasses.

No, not just air dry. I dry each piece individually with a fluffy hand towel (something that sort of gets into the crevices, etc.). For my e-ring, I generally finish by wiping the center stone with a jewelry polishing cloth to remove any streaks, spots, film on the top surface of the stone.

 

[iluvshinythings]

Lately I've been cleaning my rings every day. I keep a bottle of dish soap under my bathroom sink along with a baby toothbrush and give it a quick scrubbing followed by a rinse in water then another rinse with deionized water (which I keep in a plastic condiment squirt bottle so I don't have to heft a gallon jug ever day) then I hit it with the hair dryer. I've found a quick spritz with Windex works in a pinch.

I'm adding alcohol wipes to my shopping list. Great idea Enerchi!

Every couple of weeks I get out the ultrasonic cleaner and follow that with the jewel jet.

I just bought a Diamond Dazzle stick for my purse and love it!

(I'm a bit compulsive with my jewelry cleaning but dirty diamonds drive my nuts)