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Unlike other possessions or pieces of jewellery, there’s a specific way to clean your ring and specific ingredients to use when doing so. Start by filling up a small glass with hot water. Add dishwashing soap. Place your ring in the cup and let it sit there for 30 minutes. Remove the ring and gently scrub the diamond with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Rinse the ring under running warm water, and then dry it off with a lint-free cloth.

It’s tempting to rinse your ring under the running water of your kitchen or bathroom taps. Whilst this will work out in 99% of cases, it’s the 1% you need to worry about! You’d be amazed at how often rings are accidentally dropped over the sink and end up falling down the drain. That’s a phone call to an emergency plumber you’re going to want to avoid! The easiest way of preventing this nightmare is by eliminating the opportunities for these scenarios to unfold. Instead of washing your rings over the sink, do so over a bowl, pouring water from a cup instead. Alternatively, you’re able to wash your ring over the sink as long as you’ve first made sure there’s a properly placed plug over the drain.

Once you’ve cleaned your ring, you’re able to gently dry it off with a lint-free cloth. Never use other drying devices like a hairdryer, for example. You’re also able to just sit it on top of a small towel or cloth and let it air dry naturally at room temperature. It should only be a few minutes at most until it’s ready to pop straight back onto your finger.

Ideally, you should be doing a home clean of your ring at least once a week. Cleaning your ring too infrequently runs the risk of building up dirt and grime that will affect your ring across the long term. The more frequently you do a light clean, the less frequently you’ll need to do deep cleans. Your home cleanings should also help you spot any loosening of your diamond or stones that will require the attention of a professional jeweller.

In addition to your home cleans, you should also take your ring for a professional clean at least once a year, ideally twice. Jewellers have professional cleaning tools able to clean your ring in a way that you simply can’t do yourself at home. In addition to this, they’ll also make sure that your stones are sturdy and secure, and minimize any risk of them getting dislodged and falling off. Make sure to set a reminder in your calendar—you’d be amazed at how easy it is to forget about these professional cleans without that gentle reminder every six to twelve months.

They may seem like a harmless option that does the trick for cleaning almost anything, but as a rule of thumb, general household cleaning products should almost always be avoided. You should never use products such as bleach, acetone or chlorine; as these can cause a chemical reaction with the metals in your ring. Even seemingly innocuous products like toothpaste or baking soda should be avoided, as products such as these can have an abrasive effect on your ring that runs the risk of causing permanent damage. If you absolutely must, you’re generally okay to use Windex, so long as your ring metal is either gold, silver or platinum; and only if your ring’s gemstones are exclusively diamonds. Windex runs the risk of damaging softer gemstones however, such as emeralds.

Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency pressure waves to clean small items. Do they work? Absolutely! And the temptation to use them to clean your ring exists for this very reason. Despite their effectiveness, they should not be used. This comes down to the science of how they work: the same high-frequency pressure waves that cleans the ring has the potential to weaken the fixtures that are holding your diamond and other stones in place too. It’s great having a nice clean ring, but not if that comes at the expense of a lost diamond!

The cosmetic benefits of applying creams, ointments and lotions to your skin are well-documented. Whether to protect yourself from the sun, moisturize for vitality, or infuse your body with vitamins and nutrients—the benefits of these products speak for themselves. However, they are not an engagement ring’s best friend. When applying any of these products, remove your ring if it’s possible. Otherwise, do your best to avoid contact between your ring and the products being applied.

Avoid touching your ring’s diamond whether your ring is sitting on your finger or anywhere else. You’ll find that the sparkle of your ring will remain stronger over time, and there’ll be less complexity involved with each and every clean.