Curious as to how fellow bees care for their rings (and figure it would be helpful for other readers as well)
- do you wear it into the shower?
- how often do you clean it? (i have to say that after reading martha stewart's wedding magazine section on how to clean rings has proven wonders.. A soft toothbrush and warm water with dishwashing liquid has made my ring SUPER SPARKLY..who knew that all the shower suds/hand washing/lotion was stuck on that ring?!)
- has anyone ever heard that scrubbing it every week can loosen the settings or be increase the wear and tear for the gold/platinum or whatever you have on the ring?
i don't wear mine into the shower, or for long periods of time in water (ie, washing dishes), or for messy cooking, or when i put on lotion. i have heard that scrubbing every week can loosen the setting, particularly if you have a pave setting, which i do... but at the same time, i can't stand a dirty ring!! :)
my personal routine is to clean it off with a soft cloth (like my eyeglasses cloth, or my tank top, etc) every time i wash my hands. then i don't get water spots, and the surfaces of the diamonds stay relatively free of fingerprints... that's my pet peeve! :)
i've only got it cleaned at the jeweler's once in the 10ish months i've had it... man it was so pretty after that!! :)
I don't wear it when I wash my hands or take a shower. I don't know which chemicals are abrasive (I have a white gold ring), so I'd rather not risk it. I usually clean it once every 2 weeks in the standard pink jewelers solution (my jeweler told me to use that and not dish soap like Martha recommends, which can be abrasive). I have a jewelry care plan, so I usually get it cleaned by the jeweler about every 2 months. I haven't heard that cleaning it will make the prongs loose, but that's why I soak and not scrub.
I know this isn't *quite* related but just an FYI....if your ring is white gold, be careful when you use Purell or any of those anti-bacterial gels. There's a chemical reaction that "yellows" the white gold. I found out the hard way. (This can be fixed by the jeweler, but why create more hassles for yourself).
Wow, thanks Yach, I keep the antibacterial stuff in my car (I go to a lot of nasty places), I will definitely keep that in mind. Every 2 weeks or so, I use the jewelry cleaning solution, and scrub lightly with the little brush, it comes out SO shiny and sparkly! I don't wear mine in the shower or to bed (I kept thinking I was going to bend the prongs, crazy I know, but I wasn't sleeping well, so I put it in it's pretty box next to me every night and then can't wait to put it on in the morning), but I do wear it when I wash my hands. It's the little tiny cleanings throughout the day. I don't wear it when I put lotion on either, it really is amazing how much crud gets built up on it!
i use an ultrasonic cleaner once or twice a week (GemOro sparkle spa). i take my ring off as soon as i get home and put it in my jewelry box. i don't wear it when i clean or shower.
I wear it all the time except when I am putting on lotion. (And now maybe hand sanitizers) I am too afraid of losing it. Plus, I have it to wear it. If it gets dirty I soak it about once a month or take it to the jewlers.
I try to avoid my center stone whenever I put on lotion or antibacterial hand cream. There's a cleaner I've found that works WONDERS and really polishes the platinum on my ring. Here's my post about it:
I know a lot of brides that sleep and shower in their ring, but I tried it once and woke up with scratches on my face. But I'm also a crazy sleeper, so I'm sure if you're not it would be fine! I do know that a lot of the shampoos have alcohol base in them and can cause white gold to yellow faster. Good luck:)
When I'm at home, I take my ring off in the shower or when I wash my hands. My parents got me a crystal ring holder thingamajig as an engagement present and I keep it by my bathroom sink. However, when I am away from home (hotel shower, public restroom, someone else's house) I leave it on as I figure it would be worse to have it lost or stolen than dirtied up or damaged.
I don't wear mine in the shower. Clean it at home every couple of weeks.
I have a white gold ring with aquamarine stone. I use a warm soapy water with a few drops of ammonia, and an old toothbrush. The ammonia brings out the shine.
Here's a few websites with directions as to how to clean rings:
I had my 50-year-old diamond egagement set restored and appraised, and the appraiser (once a bench jeweler herself) said you can clean it everyday with a diluted solution of Simple Green and it would never ever hurt it.
I'm glad I read this post because it was very informative, although I'm still not sure what to do. It's still pretty new, but I always wear my ring, except for lately I have been taking it off to lotion, and the past few nights to sleep because I have been restless and the center stone keeps getting snagged on one of the blankets. I clean it probably once a week with a toothbrush and a little soap and it seems to do the trick. My husband takes his off for everything (which annoys me) but he says it's special to him and he wants to take good care of it. I just figured, it's something that I should wear all the time and that it would be durable enough for me to do so - I never gave any thought to when I should take it off or keep it on.
My jeweler recommends that you steam clean it every 6 months.
I cleaned mine with Efferdent yesterday for the first time and I definitely noticed a difference.
I'm scared to brush it with a toothbrush because I'm afraid to scratch anything or loosen any stones. But if you do use one, make sure it's one with a soft bristle head.
Ultrasonic cleaners are not recommended for all types of rings. It depends on your setting. I hear they can loosen the stones on pave settings.
wow...i see the overwhelming response is that most people don't shower with their rings! :) maybe my ring is too tight, but i definitely have to work quite a bit to pull off my ring and i sometimes don't think its worth pulling it off for the shower (but the benefit of it being that "tight" is that i know its secure...i never worry that my ring has fallen off! haha). i just end up leaving it on my hand and pretty much <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic">never take it off, except to scrub it...(i love being able to see it at all times....)
My jeweler told me to soak it in Windex every day (when I take it off) and brush it lightly with a clean toothbrush before putting it on. I couldn't believe it, but it does really shine!! I don't brush it every day, though.
Whenever I go to see him (recently a lot as we are choosing our wedding bands) I get it cleaned.
i do wear mine in the shower and when i wash my hands. i can't imagine taking it off in a public bathroom. the only times i take it off are when i put on lotion and when i'm doing something messy with my hands, such as washing dishes or cooking.
I pretty much just take mine off when I shower or when I'm rock climbing. Other than that, it stays on. I haven't worried too much about cleaning it, other than a soft cloth every now and again. Maybe it's time for a cleaning, though... Thanks for the informative post!
I wear mine all the time. ALL THE TIME. Don't take it off to shower, wash dishes, cook, sleep, anything. I think there's more of a chance of losing it, and a little soap or food isn't going to hurt a diamond or platinum. Seriously, I promise. :-) I've had mine for a year with no problems- no bent prongs and nothing a little at home clean can't take off.
Hi,
Curious as to how fellow bees care for their rings (and figure it would be helpful for other readers as well)
- do you wear it into the shower?
- how often do you clean it? (i have to say that after reading martha stewart's wedding magazine section on how to clean rings has proven wonders.. A soft toothbrush and warm water with dishwashing liquid has made my ring SUPER SPARKLY..who knew that all the shower suds/hand washing/lotion was stuck on that ring?!)
- has anyone ever heard that scrubbing it every week can loosen the settings or be increase the wear and tear for the gold/platinum or whatever you have on the ring?
posted by puffykins 53 posts 6 months agoi don't wear mine into the shower, or for long periods of time in water (ie, washing dishes), or for messy cooking, or when i put on lotion. i have heard that scrubbing every week can loosen the setting, particularly if you have a pave setting, which i do... but at the same time, i can't stand a dirty ring!! :)
my personal routine is to clean it off with a soft cloth (like my eyeglasses cloth, or my tank top, etc) every time i wash my hands. then i don't get water spots, and the surfaces of the diamonds stay relatively free of fingerprints... that's my pet peeve! :)
i've only got it cleaned at the jeweler's once in the 10ish months i've had it... man it was so pretty after that!! :)
posted by staceyb 178 posts 6 months agoI don't wear it when I wash my hands or take a shower. I don't know which chemicals are abrasive (I have a white gold ring), so I'd rather not risk it. I usually clean it once every 2 weeks in the standard pink jewelers solution (my jeweler told me to use that and not dish soap like Martha recommends, which can be abrasive). I have a jewelry care plan, so I usually get it cleaned by the jeweler about every 2 months. I haven't heard that cleaning it will make the prongs loose, but that's why I soak and not scrub.
posted by rebecca 986 posts 6 months agoI know this isn't *quite* related but just an FYI....if your ring is white gold, be careful when you use Purell or any of those anti-bacterial gels. There's a chemical reaction that "yellows" the white gold. I found out the hard way.
(This can be fixed by the jeweler, but why create more hassles for yourself).
posted by Yach 234 posts 6 months agoWow, thanks Yach, I keep the antibacterial stuff in my car (I go to a lot of nasty places), I will definitely keep that in mind. Every 2 weeks or so, I use the jewelry cleaning solution, and scrub lightly with the little brush, it comes out SO shiny and sparkly! I don't wear mine in the shower or to bed (I kept thinking I was going to bend the prongs, crazy I know, but I wasn't sleeping well, so I put it in it's pretty box next to me every night and then can't wait to put it on in the morning), but I do wear it when I wash my hands. It's the little tiny cleanings throughout the day. I don't wear it when I put lotion on either, it really is amazing how much crud gets built up on it!
posted by LeahB 342 posts 6 months agoi use an ultrasonic cleaner once or twice a week (GemOro sparkle spa). i take my ring off as soon as i get home and put it in my jewelry box. i don't wear it when i clean or shower.
posted by birdieputt 45 posts 6 months agoI wear it all the time except when I am putting on lotion. (And now maybe hand sanitizers) I am too afraid of losing it. Plus, I have it to wear it. If it gets dirty I soak it about once a month or take it to the jewlers.
posted by Candi1024 304 posts 6 months agoI try to avoid my center stone whenever I put on lotion or antibacterial hand cream. There's a cleaner I've found that works WONDERS and really polishes the platinum on my ring. Here's my post about it:
http://vailbride.blogspot.com/2008/05/something-new.html
I know a lot of brides that sleep and shower in their ring, but I tried it once and woke up with scratches on my face. But I'm also a crazy sleeper, so I'm sure if you're not it would be fine! I do know that a lot of the shampoos have alcohol base in them and can cause white gold to yellow faster. Good luck:)
posted by vailbride 33 posts 6 months agoWhen I'm at home, I take my ring off in the shower or when I wash my hands. My parents got me a crystal ring holder thingamajig as an engagement present and I keep it by my bathroom sink. However, when I am away from home (hotel shower, public restroom, someone else's house) I leave it on as I figure it would be worse to have it lost or stolen than dirtied up or damaged.
posted by prettykatie 158 posts 6 months agoI don't wear mine in the shower. Clean it at home every couple of weeks.
I have a white gold ring with aquamarine stone. I use a warm soapy water with a few drops of ammonia, and an old toothbrush. The ammonia brings out the shine.
Here's a few websites with directions as to how to clean rings:
http://engagementrings.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Caring_for_Your_Engagement_Ring
http://www.ehow.com/how_3214_clean-diamond-ring.html
posted by Lee 37 posts 6 months agoI had my 50-year-old diamond egagement set restored and appraised, and the appraiser (once a bench jeweler herself) said you can clean it everyday with a diluted solution of Simple Green and it would never ever hurt it.
posted by Angel 629 posts 6 months agoI'm glad I read this post because it was very informative, although I'm still not sure what to do. It's still pretty new, but I always wear my ring, except for lately I have been taking it off to lotion, and the past few nights to sleep because I have been restless and the center stone keeps getting snagged on one of the blankets. I clean it probably once a week with a toothbrush and a little soap and it seems to do the trick. My husband takes his off for everything (which annoys me) but he says it's special to him and he wants to take good care of it. I just figured, it's something that I should wear all the time and that it would be durable enough for me to do so - I never gave any thought to when I should take it off or keep it on.
posted by mlindsey 175 posts 6 months agoI don't shower or cook or do makeup or do my hair or sleep with it.
I clean it with Windex and it sparkles more than when I've taken it to the jeweler to be steam cleaned. I clean it usually once a week.
posted by Indigo 16 posts 6 months agoMy jeweler recommends that you steam clean it every 6 months.
I cleaned mine with Efferdent yesterday for the first time and I definitely noticed a difference.
I'm scared to brush it with a toothbrush because I'm afraid to scratch anything or loosen any stones. But if you do use one, make sure it's one with a soft bristle head.
Ultrasonic cleaners are not recommended for all types of rings. It depends on your setting. I hear they can loosen the stones on pave settings.
posted by lovebird 100 posts 6 months agowow...i see the overwhelming response is that most people don't shower with their rings! :) maybe my ring is too tight, but i definitely have to work quite a bit to pull off my ring and i sometimes don't think its worth pulling it off for the shower (but the benefit of it being that "tight" is that i know its secure...i never worry that my ring has fallen off! haha). i just end up leaving it on my hand and pretty much <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic">never take it off, except to scrub it...(i love being able to see it at all times....)
posted by puffykins 53 posts 6 months agoMy jeweler told me to soak it in Windex every day (when I take it off) and brush it lightly with a clean toothbrush before putting it on. I couldn't believe it, but it does really shine!! I don't brush it every day, though.
Whenever I go to see him (recently a lot as we are choosing our wedding bands) I get it cleaned.
posted by soon2bmrsp 14 posts 6 months agoi do wear mine in the shower and when i wash my hands. i can't imagine taking it off in a public bathroom. the only times i take it off are when i put on lotion and when i'm doing something messy with my hands, such as washing dishes or cooking.
posted by Joanne 147 posts 6 months agoI pretty much just take mine off when I shower or when I'm rock climbing. Other than that, it stays on. I haven't worried too much about cleaning it, other than a soft cloth every now and again. Maybe it's time for a cleaning, though... Thanks for the informative post!
posted by missm 483 posts 6 months agoI wear mine all the time. ALL THE TIME. Don't take it off to shower, wash dishes, cook, sleep, anything. I think there's more of a chance of losing it, and a little soap or food isn't going to hurt a diamond or platinum. Seriously, I promise. :-) I've had mine for a year with no problems- no bent prongs and nothing a little at home clean can't take off.
posted by BA 74 posts 6 months ago