This Post is in Partnership with JamesAllen.com | All opinions are my own.

I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since we got engaged! I still get giddy inside when I look down at my left hand and see my beautiful diamond engagement ring. Johnny and JamesAllen.com really outdid themselves. We’re keeping most details on my engagement ring private, but I do have a halo diamond engagement ring in Platinum. It’s called the Falling Edge because the halo isn’t just on the face of the ring, but the sides too, which gives the whole ring a lot of sparkle.

As time passes, your ring may start to lose its luster. I apply a lotion, do the dishes by hand, style my hair with aerosol hairspray… all of these things plus the normal oils your body produces can cloud up your ring. They can settle on top of the diamond affecting its ability to reflect light.

In this post, I’ll be sharing how to clean your diamond engagement ring at home! No need to take it to a jeweler or buy a fancy gadget. You can do this in the comfort of your home with items you already have. Plus, a few maintenance tips on how to keep your ring beautiful longer.

Johnny did an awesome job getting a beautiful diamond on a platinum setting, but I wear my ring all the time, so cleaning it is a must. I used to clean it two weeks, then every month. But as time moves on, I don’t clean it as often as I should. Before shooting these photos, I actually can’t remember the last time I cleaned my ring. It is certainly due! Here’s how to clean your diamond engagement ring in less than 10 minutes!

What You Need

Dish Soap (any kind works, I use Mrs. Meyers)
Warm Water
Bowl
Toothbrush
Microfiber cloth (any soft cloth is fine, I love these for cleaning our house, too!)

Cleaning Your Ring

Add a dime-size amount of dish soap to the small bowl and add warm water. Take the toothbrush and stir it a little to get it nice and sudsy. Then, drop your diamond engagement ring in the bowl for at least 10 minutes. I actually love to do this before I do the dishes, so it can sit while I clean up the kitchen.
After 10 minutes, take the toothbrush and start brushing your ring. Make sure to get in the tight spots, but be gentle. You don’t need to apply a lot of pressure. I like to get a bit under my setting to make sure everything is nice and clean. It’ll get really sudsy now! You can also use a straw cleaner, which I find can really get into those small crevices!
Carefully rinse with some warm water. Don’t drop your ring down the drain. If this makes you nervous, hold your ring over a bigger bowl or make sure your stopper is in the sink.
Once it’s thoroughly rinsed, used a microfiber cloth to polish the ring. It’ll be as good as when you first got it, trust me!

How to Keep Your Ring Sparkly

There are a few good habits you can practice to keep your ring extra clean. Before I shower or start my nighttime skincare routine, I take off my ring and put it in a ring holder. I mentioned how important a ring is in this post on 5 things to do after when you get engaged. You don’t want to lose your ring, even if it’s insured. Making sure you have a safe spot you always place your ring in when it’s not on your finger helps to prevent that.

I also take off my ring if I’m going to apply a ton of lotion – particularly body lotion. If I’m sitting down at home and need to apply hand lotion, I take off my ring as well. However, when I’m on the go, I just avoid putting lotion directly on the ring when applying. This goes without saying if you’re about to clean your house or do a DIY project, you probably shouldn’t wear your ring either.

Hand sanitizer is so important nowadays, but if you can wash your hands with soap and water, that’s best. Over time, the harsh chemicals in hand sanitizer can dull your ring. Of course, health and hygiene is most important. If you have to apply hand sanitizer, try to take off your ring if you can.