How Often Should You Clean Your Engagement Ring? An Expert Weighs In

It's no wonder they call it a sparkler: When you first get your beautiful new engagement ring, there's nothing shinier in the world. How often should you clean your engagement ring to keep it that way? Because life happens. You wash your hands, use lotion, cook dinner, garden, and very quickly, your ring may lose some luster. No worries: A professional ring cleaning will bring it right back to life.

"Engagement rings and wedding bands are worn daily, which means they undergo considerable wear and tear," says graduate gemologist Kristin Milne, bridal business manager for historic Chicago jeweler CD Peacock, which has a home base at The CD Peacock Mansion at Oakbrook Center. "Rings can quickly get dirty from soaps, lotions and hair products. Regular cleanings and inspections will help keep your ring in excellent condition for a lifetime," Milne says.

Here, Milne gives us the scoop on how to take care of your sparkler. Read through, and then hit up The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find a jewelry cleaner near you.

In this article:

• How Often Should You Clean Your Engagement Ring?
• How Much Does It Cost to Get an Engagement Ring Cleaned?
• How Do Jewelers Clean Engagement Rings?
• What Jewelers Check While Cleaning Your Engagement Ring
• Where to Get Your Engagement Ring Cleaned

How Often Should You Clean Your Engagement Ring?

If you've ever wondered, "How often should I get my engagement ring cleaned?" the answer is that there's no such thing as too often. "If you live near your jeweler, try to visit as often as possible," Milne says. "We love nothing more than to see our rings sparkle! At the very least, you should aim to have your ring cleaned and inspected three to four times a year."

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Between professional cleanings, you can do touchups at home. Here's a quick how-to for at-home engagement ring cleaning: "You can effectively clean your ring using an old soft toothbrush and a mixture of warm water with mild dish detergent," Milne says. "Simply soak your ring in the soapy water for a few minutes, then use the toothbrush to gently brush the tops and undersides of the diamonds. Finally, rinse the ring with clean water." Your jeweler can also likely provide you with a bottle of jewelry cleaner to use at home. However, these methods are just for the in-between; it's most imperative to keep up with regular professional cleanings.

How Much Does It Cost to Get an Engagement Ring Cleaned?

The really good news about the engagement ring cleaning cost? There is usually no cost. "Most jewelers offer complimentary cleaning services for life," Milne says. So, your best bet is to return to the jeweler where the ring was purchased. At CD Peacock, however, they'll clean rings for free even if the ring was purchased elsewhere. You'll very likely be able to find a jeweler who will clean your ring for free.

How Do Jewelers Clean Engagement Rings?

Professional jewelers clean diamond rings better than you can at home. There are a few steps to their process.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

"Jewelers use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, which vibrates warm water mixed with a cleaning solution," Milne explains. "This process loosens dirt, oils and other debris from the ring." Depending on the intricacy of your engagement ring setting, a significant amount of buildup can accumulate, so this step is essential.

Steam Cleaning

"After [the ultrasonic cleaning], a steam cleaner is used to remove the remaining dirt and make the diamonds really sparkle," Milne says. "Diamonds naturally attract dirt and grime, making them prone to collecting unwanted residue. Rings featuring numerous small diamonds and prongs tend to collect more dirt. Additionally, the underside of center diamonds can accumulate dirt if not cleaned regularly, resulting in a hazy appearance." The steam clean will help clear this up.

Polishing and Plating

While ultrasonic and steam cleaning can and should happen often, the polishing and plating can be more spaced out. "Every couple of years, rings can be polished and rhodium-plated to restore their original shine and make them look brand-new," Milne says. This step depends on your ring's metal type. "Platinum, being a soft metal, easily shows scratches, while white gold requires rhodium plating to maintain its appearance. It is recommended to polish platinum and, conversely, to polish and reapply rhodium to white gold rings, once every one to two years, depending on how frequently you wear them."

What Jewelers Check While Cleaning Your Engagement Ring

A professional ring cleaning doubles as an engagement ring inspection, as jewelers will look for ring damage, chipped diamonds and more. "During each cleaning, the jeweler or sales professional inspects the ring for any loose or broken stones, as well as worn-down prongs," Milne says. "They also assess the overall integrity of the metal. If repairs are necessary, the jeweler would provide an estimate and time frame for completing the work."

Though engagement rings, especially diamond ones, are made to be durable, they still require regular inspections; it's likely your most valuable piece of jewelry, after all. "Diamonds are the hardest material, but a ring set with colored stones requires extra care," Milne says. This is another reason regular cleanings are paramount; you may just catch a loose prong before a stone falls out, for example. (Engagement ring insurance is also a must.)

Where to Get Your Engagement Ring Cleaned

The short answer? "It is always best to return to the jeweler where you purchased your ring, as they understand the integrity of their product and will stand behind it," Milne says. And, as mentioned earlier, most jewelers offer complimentary ring cleanings for life. (Plus, it's fun to go back and peek around. "At CD Peacock, we offer our clients the opportunity to have a complimentary cleaning while they're visiting the store, so they can shop while the ring is being cleaned," Milne says.)

But what if you don't live near your original jeweler? This can often be the case if your partner purchased the ring from their hometown jeweler before proposing. In that case, search The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find a local jeweler for a professional ring cleaning, and check their credibility. "Ask friends and coworkers for recommendations for jewelers in your area," Milne suggests. "Search online to read reviews and to check if the services offered fit your needs." Once you've established a relationship with a jeweler near you, you'll be able to return again and again, as you should, for regular cleanings.