Within just a short amount of time, that gorgeous sparkling diamond of yours doesn’t look quite the same. That’s because you didn’t count on the amount of grit and grime that can accumulate on your ring. Once dirt lodges on a diamond, it affects the shine and brilliance of the stone, reducing its beauty. Here, the experts from Genesis Diamonds share how your ring can be cleaned quickly and effectively at home in order to maintain its sparkling-new appearance.

Gently Do It: All that’s needed to return your ring to its previous glory is a little soap and water. Mix one part mild detergent-free soap such as dish-washing liquid with three parts warm water. You can then either let the ring soak overnight or take a soft bristle toothbrush and give it a good scrub. If you don’t want to let the ring soak overnight, just repeat the process two or three times. Rinse under the tap and dry with a lint-free cloth.

Ammonia: A solution of one part ammonia and three parts warm water is slightly harsher than the soap and water solution but it will not damage your ring. Move the ring about in the solution for a few minutes, brush with a soft bristle toothbrush if required, rinse and dry as above.

Not Just for Baking: If you thought baking soda was just for baking, you were mistaken. By mixing baking soda with a little warm water to form a paste and then rubbing this paste on the diamond and setting. If you like, you can brush the paste gently with a soft bristle toothbrush. Rinse the ring, dry and polish it with a lint-free cloth and you will not believe you are looking at the same ring. As baking soda is non-abrasive, it will not damage your ring.

Specialized Jewelry Solutions: If you don’t trust these home remedies you can either purchase a specialized cleaning solution and follow the specific instructions or take the ring to a jeweler.

Cleaning at a Jeweler:  Jewelers can clean your ring professionally with steam or ultrasonically. This is not a costly procedure and, if you bought your ring from a jeweler rather than online, they should do it at no charge.