After sharing my wedding video last week, it got me feeling all the feels. I am so happy to have married my best friend and can't believe it's been almost five months! TBH, it really doesn't feel like anything's changed… But I do love rocking my wedding and engagement rings!
I always get stopped and asked how I keep them so sparkly so I wanted to share some of my tops tips for taking care of your engagement ring.
So for all the newly engaged or already married ladies in the house, take notes!
Get your ring insured.
This is rule number one! You should be able to wear and enjoy your ring without worrying! Jewelers Mutual has been exclusively insuring jewelry for more than 100 years and offers repair or replacement coverage for all types of jewelry and watches. Coverage includes loss, theft, damage and mysterious disappearance (unexplained loss), and goes with you wherever you travel around the world. Hello, worry-free honeymoon!
Clean with “the green Palmolive & a baby toothbrush”.
Haha so true story: we got my engagement ring from a friend whose family has had a very successful diamond business for generations. I asked him how to keep my ring as sparkly as the day I got it, and he said, “use the green Palmolive and a baby toothbrush”. No joke, I've been doing this for almost three years and my ring still sparkles like the day I got it! Sometimes I go through phases where I do it every week, sometimes once a month, but I always try to stay on top of it. The baby tooth brush makes it easier to get under the basket and into all the little nooks of my ring and the dish soap… well honestly I think any dish detergent will work just fine, but I stick with the green Palmolive!
Get a lint free cloth!
Now that you've got your ring nice and clean, you want to keep it clean! I would recommend snagging some lint free towels to either let your ring air dry on or quickly dry with. The last thing you need to do is clean your ring and then rub it with a paper towel that could leave some fibers behind on it, taking away from it's sparkle, or scratching the precious metal setting you have it in.
Don't wear your rings when engaging with harmful chemicals.
Ok I know that sounds a little weird, haha! Basically, don't wear your ring in the pool or hot tub or while hair spraying or lotioning up. You don't want your ring to get coated unnecessarily in gook or goo that can be harder to get off as it seeps deep in to the setting or damages the setting.
Get into good habits.
From the start of getting your ring, make sure you don't cook or clean the dishes while wearing it, if it helps get a little ring dish to keep in the kitchen as a visual reminder to take it off (and so you don't accidentally drop it down the drain!).
Don't wear your ring to the gym or beach or any where else you could risk losing it or damaging it. I know a lot of girls wear their ring to the gym, but if you are weight lifting or tightly gripping anything with your hands for extended periods of time, I simply wouldn't risk it. I've heard horror stories about girls using only 2-3 pound weights for extended periods of time that resulted in the claws holding the diamond to loosen over time.
For more tips on keeping your ring in tip top shape all year, download Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company Cleaning and Care Guide for daily, monthly, and annual to-do's to keep your ring in the best shape! by clicking here.
I’m not engaged yet, but one day when I am, this will be such useful advice, and it’s something so many people don’t think about but should. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome! thanks for reading Sam!
Love this. I am so bad about cleaning my rings!
Lol well you do have a baby to take care of!
I definitely need to clean mine! And since they’re off my finger for the last few weeks of pregnancy (#sadface), now would be a great time!
Lol it would!! I know mine won’t fit when I am pregnant either!
These are some excellent tips! I’ve never considered getting my ring insured. Definitely checking into that one.
Thank you!! That’s really smart! My mom had hers stolen when I was younger and so as soon as we got the ring (before we were even engaged) we got it insured!
I do not have anything close to an engagement ring haha but taking these tips into consideration for the rest of my jewellery!
Lol truth! these totally apply to more than just engagement rings!
This is awesome there is so much people might now know about taking care of their rings!!
thank you
I love these tips! I’m always trying to clean my engagement and wedding rings. I’m definitely going to try some of your suggestions!
thanks katie
Great tips!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Diana!
These are really great tips! I hadn’t heard of the palmolive and baby toothbrush before. I’ll have to try it. My husband bought me a Qalo ring for the gym and I love it! I don’t have to worry about it pinching me or getting dings on it because it’s silicone. I also don’t shower with my rings. Prevents soap scum buildup and my ring always gets caught in my hair while washing. Super annoying! haha Great post!
Lol it’s a game changer! Those are so cool!! I could never imagine washing my hair with a ring on! I feel like it would hurt haha
I love the Palmolive and baby toothbrush idea! I never would have thought of that, but it totally makes sense. And Palmolive is great. My mom is actually allergic to Dawn and anything made to Emulate Dawn, but Palmolive doesn’t bother her.
lol it’s awesome! That’s so wild about your mom!
I had thought about this and feel like I never wanted to take it off once it’s own (personal reasons) but I guess I should really reconsider…. Thanks for this info! I’m coming back to this when it’s my time 🙂
http://thesofieyahdiaries.com/lifestyle/moana
Thank you! Yeah I thought I would never take mine off too, but taking care of it overrode that desire for me
Such great details! I need to start using Palmolive. I usually just go get mine polished and redipped every six months lol.
Dang! Well yours does have a lot more nooks and crannies than mine!
Your rings are beautiful. Great tips I think for cleaning any nice jewelry or rings!
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
Thank you so much! Thats so true too!
These are all great pieces of advice! Beautiful rings!
-Anna | http://www.fivefootandfabulous.com
Thank you so much Anna
Great device and things to keep in mind!
Thanks
Good tips! One of my friends accidentally threw her ring in the dumpster when she took out the trash ahah.
Alix | http://www.apintsizedlifeblog.com
OMG NO!!! My husband would do that haha
Good tips, I am going to try the green Palmolive when I run out of Jewelry Cleaner. I have dropped my ring down the drain at work. Thankfully our maintenance guy was able to retrieve it as the drain pipe was an L shape. I never told my husband ha ha ha. But since then I have been extra careful with my ring.
Oh no!! Haha I am always so careful about that when washing my hands haha My husband actually almost lost his wedding ring on our flight home from our wedding! haha
I am going to try your ring cleaning trick! I’m obsessed with this ring.
Greta | http://www.gretahollar.com
Lol thank you
Hi Rachel, congratulations on getting married, wish you love and happiness! x Now, Green Palmolive is a good dish soap and I find it gentle on the hands when washing dishes… lol. But I can totally see how it could even be a fabulous ring cleaner too, probably even would do a better job then other detergents.
Beautiful ring as well,
“) lucky you, all the best!
Thank you so much! haha
Great tips! I get mine cleaned for free every 6 months at the jewelers but honestly I should really be cleaning it on my own between those times!
That’s cool! Yeah I would just to prevent additional build up
Such great tips to keep your jewelry looking fresh!
thank you!
I have tried so many DIY ring cleaning tricks but none seem to work as great as I hope! I need to try this because your rings look so stunning!
Awe thank youuuu!! This is the only thing I’ve ever done, but I remember growing up using one of those ring solution/shakers for my moms ring and a sapphire/diamond necklace I had… eventually it shook one of the sapphires right out haha!
Your rings are beautiful and so sparkly! Random question, but is there a specific reason why you have two wedding bands instead of one? I love that they’re both different styles. My mom has two wedding bands because she lost the first one – but later found it ?
Awesome question! It’s funny, I thought more people would actually ask that! lol I couldn’t decide TBH! We had budgeted a certain amount for my ring and ended up with “friends & family” discount on my rings that I ended up just getting two & it was still under budget! haha I love wearing them stacked or just one depending on the activity lol
Great tips! Thankfully the person who made my ring does a cleaning/check-up on it every 6 months for free, so I just use him. But sometimes it gets a little too dirty in-between so I’ll have to try this! Your rings are gorgeous too btw!
| diaryofasouthernmillennial.com
Thank you so much!
Wow! The one about the gym seriously got to me, I love your ring, it’s beautiful! Thank you for these tips too, I’m not yet engaged but I would use them for my other jewelries <3
Ash | http://www.theashtreejournal.com
Lol thank you!!
Very smart! I never knew to do any of these things with my rings. But after reading this post I’ll be stopping by the store to get some green Palmolive and a baby toothbrush! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sharon Samuel (SS)
http://www.beautifully-created.com
Haha love it! thank you for reading!!
I’m not engaged but I will definitely remember these tips for when I am. Your rings are so gorgeous!
Thank you so much!
Such great tips! My wedding ring needs a good cleaning, so I’m going to get me some of that Green Palmolive ASAP. I do have mine insured, and I never wear it to the gym. I love your rings…so pretty!
lol palmolive for the win! and thank you!
Love this. I haven’t cleaned my ring in ages (so sad) I’m sure it will look like a new ring once I try this. Thanks. Beautiful rings too!
Thank you!
I totally have Jeweler’s Mutual and I was freaked out beyond belief last year when I lost my big diamond! Thankfully it had just gotten stuck in one of my gloves and was in my coat pocket! I did have coverage though and could have gotten a new, probably bigger diamond, but sentimentalist me wanted my original one!
That sounds SO scary!! I would’ve wanted to original too! At least you have it insured!!
All FABULOUS tips, Rach!! I need to grab me some green palmolive and a baby toothbrush, cos I still haven’t tried that trick! Also what’s the third band of yours signifying???
Coming Up Roses
fo’ sho’ it’s amazing! – nothing lol I just couldn’t decide so we got them both lolol I switch up how I wear them all depending on my mood or activity
Palmolive dish washing soap who knew. I always take my rings off when working in the kitchen or outdoors.
so smart!
I had no idea you could get rings insured, and that’s hilarious that you just need Palmolive to clean it haha! Good to know for the future 🙂
yup! It’s sooo important (insurance)
Your rings are gorgeous! I’m so bad at keeping up with cleaning mine – let’s just say that our wedding photographers took pictures of them in low light, hahah!
thank you so much! lolol good photographers haha
These are all great tips! My jeweler said to steam it and then take a brush to clean it with warm water. Ive also heard great things about the dawn platinum foam pump soap
Nice! I never heard that about that dawn soap before
Your rings are breath taking!!! I cant wait to get married one day! these are great tips though.
Thank you!!
I love your tip about using the green Palmolive! Right now, I used a chemical free coconut jewelry cleaner (Caribbean Gem). But the Palmolive would be much cheaper. Thanks for the info!
Oh that sounds interesting! Why did you decide to go with that?
Love the shimmer + shine! Although I am not married yet; when the day comes, I will be sure to follow these tips!
http://thebbar.org/
Thank you!
I’m not engaged, but I do wear a really simply diamond band every day on my right hand. I’ve got to give your cleaning trick a try!
XO, SS || Seersucker Sass
Your rings re so pretty! I guess I never really thought about putting much care in an engagement ring (which totally makes sense though!!). I will def keep this in mind if I ever do get engaged!
xoxo,
Amy | Pastel N Pink
Great tips to keep your jewelry looking new. Will have to start using some of them on my favorite pieces
Oh I ADORE how you stacked two wedding bands around your engagement ring! I don’t even have one, ha! Buying an engagement plus a wedding ring for the bride is a very Western idea – one we didn’t really understand or agree with when we got married – which explains why I don’t have a wedding band. But I do love the way yours looks!! AND this post reminds me to get my engagement ring cleaned…so thank you for that!
Thanks for this! I’m so glad to read your tips on how to care for my rings! My jeweler sent me a cleaner but these are good to know for when I run out!
Your rings are so pretty! I love them! I just saw your answer to Ashley’s question and think that it’s so sweet you did that! My fiance said he wants to get me an extra band for an anniversary gift someday!
I’m also planning on not getting my rings melded together so that I can wear them separately if I want! Personally i have like 4 ring dishes placed strategically around the house for me to use so I don’t ruin my ring!
xx
Ashley