Cleaning your engagement ring is probably the furthest thing from your mind when you first slip that gorgeous sucker onto your eagerly awaiting finger. You are too mesmerized by this symbol of love. How it sparkles, how it shines! No one can blame you for looking at it as though you're a magpie, or as if it's the One True Ring, and you are as deeply smitten with it as Gollum before you.
Wearing that sparkly jewel every day takes it toll — though not in a way that really hurts your stone! Diamonds are made to withstand almost anything. But even diamonds get dirty. Why do you think there are so many different types of cleaners on the market? Just go to Amazon and type in 'ring cleaner' and you'll see what I mean.
What it takes most folks a few needless purchases to realize is that the stuff you need to really make your ring sparkle like new again is already at your own home. Once you discover what they are, you won't go back to expensive cleaners again. You'll make this ring cleaning mode part of your daily routine.
While it may horrify your hubby to know that you aren't enlisting the services of a professional to clean your ring (a totally valid choice as well), we bet he'll be pleased with the lack of damage this method does to his wallet. All you'll need is a small, electric toothbrush, a dot of toothpaste, and some hot water. Place the toothpaste on the brush, moisten slightly with hot water, and then scrub your ring as you would scrub your back molars — with pressure and in small circles.
Once you've lathered up the ring thoroughly, make sure you rinse it completely under the hot water until it's free of all the paste residue. Use a clean towel to dry it. If you're fully super-ambitious, use an auto-shammy to polish it up to a beautiful high sheen.
Do you clean your own ring or have a professional do it?
Image via mage Source/Corbis
