April 30, 2009
Response to Cheryl C. about RING CLEANING
Cheryl C. writes, “My ring looks gunky. It always gets like that. Maybe, it’s my hand lotion? How do I clean my ring?”
Cheryl,
The best way is to have it done professionally. It is best to take it to someone that will inspect the prongs to make sure everything is secure and then polish and clean the ring so it looks brand new. Once a year is a good schedule to keep.
In between the professional cleaning you can inspect and clean it yourself, the only thing most people cannot do is to polish the metal.
Cleaning should be done at least once a week using a nonabrasive cleaner such as ammonia, Simple Green, Windex or any grease cutter that will not leave a residue. Squirt the cleaning solution on your ring and on a soft toothbrush. It will remove all the soap film, hand lotion and assorted junk that may have accumulated. Scrub your ring trying to get the bristles in the recessed areas. If it is done on a weekly schedule it will take less than a minute to scrub, clean, rinse and wipe your ring for that clean sparkling look.
Do not soak the ring for more that 10 to 15 minutes. Constant soaking overnight in the cleaning solution will corrode the alloys in the gold setting creating pits and make the prongs holding the gemstones weak. You may lose them if this happens.
Pearls, opals and emeralds should not be cleaned with the solution because it may damage these gemstones. Also DO NOT place pearls, opals or emeralds under a steam cleaner!
Professionals use a steam cleaner and an inventive customer began cleaning her ring with her expresso machine. Make sure you are using thongs and be very careful you do not burn yourself.
A clean, shiny ring will garner a lot of attention. Clean it and then enjoy all the compliments!
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists, Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
