Wedding Band Polishing: How Often?

Wedding bands are often made from precious metals and stones, which can be vulnerable to everyday tasks and activities. To keep your wedding band in good condition, it is recommended to get it professionally cleaned and polished at least once a year. In between professional cleanings, you can use at-home cleaning solutions such as commercial jewellery cleaners or a mixture of warm water and dish soap to keep your ring sparkling. While opinions vary on how often to polish a wedding band, it is generally agreed that regular cleaning and maintenance are important to preserve its shine and remove dirt, grime, and oil.

How to polish a wedding band at home

Wedding rings are exposed to the elements and can easily get scratched, so it's important to know how to polish and care for your wedding band at home.

Firstly, it's important to know how often to clean your ring. If you have a diamond ring, it is best practice to polish it every week. However, if you have a gold band, polishing it too often can wear it away, so only polish it when you feel it needs a special shine. The finer the gold, the more fragile it is.

Now, for the steps to polish your wedding band at home:

Fill a bowl with warm water and add a few drops of basic dishwashing soap. Avoid harsh cleaning liquids as these can damage your ring. Soak your ring in the bowl for about 20-30 minutes. Gently brush your ring with a soft toothbrush to remove any residue, especially in any grooves in the design and setting. Rinse the ring in warm water to remove any remaining soap. Finally, pat your ring dry with a soft cloth and leave it to air dry. Do not use a paper towel as this may scratch gold.

If your ring is still not shining as you would like it to, you can add a bit of baking soda to your solution (no more than half a teaspoon).

How often to get a wedding band professionally polished

Wedding rings are made to be worn every day, but this constant exposure to the elements can leave them vulnerable to damage. While some people like the look of a well-worn ring, others prefer to keep theirs looking as good as new. To do this, you'll need to put in a little work.

The answer to this question depends on who you ask. Some sources recommend getting your wedding band professionally cleaned and polished once a year. Others suggest doing so twice a year, while some even say every three to four months. However, most jewellers agree that you should get your ring professionally cleaned somewhat regularly, especially at the same place you purchased it from.

If you're looking to get your wedding band professionally polished, it's worth noting that some jewellers offer this service for free, especially if you're a frequent customer. If you're unsure, it's best to discuss the details with your jeweller before making a purchase.

How to Clean Your Wedding Band at Home

In between professional ring cleanings, you can use at-home solutions to keep your rings in good condition. Here's a simple method that works for most rings:

• Fill a bowl with warm water.
• Add a few drops of basic dishwashing soap.
• Soak your ring in the bowl for about 20-30 minutes.
• Gently brush your ring with a soft toothbrush to remove any residue, especially in the grooves of the design and setting.
• Rinse your ring off in warm water to remove any remaining soap.
• Pat your ring dry with a soft cloth and leave it to air dry.

Tips to Protect Your Ring

To keep your ring in good condition, it's recommended to take it off during certain activities, such as going to the gym, gardening, doing housework, or any manual labour. Additionally, consider the following tips:

• Buy ring insurance to protect your investment and symbol of love.
• Don't resize your ring too often, as this can make it weaker.
• Treat your diamond with extreme care, as even the strongest stones can break.
• Get your ring professionally cleaned and polished occasionally to keep it in good condition.

How to maintain a wedding band between polishes

Wedding bands are often exposed to the elements, which can cause them to lose their shine and brilliance over time. To keep your wedding band in good condition between polishes, there are several maintenance steps you can take:

• Avoid harsh chemicals: Stay away from chemicals such as bleach, chlorine, and acetone, which can break down the metal in your band. Also, avoid abrasive cleaners like powdered cleansers and toothpaste, as they can erode metals and discolour your ring.
• Choose jewellery cleaners carefully: Opt for cleaners without chemicals or abrasive components. Even certain chemicals that won't harm your ring could discolour your diamond.
• Use soft brushes: When cleaning your wedding band, only use soft-bristled brushes. Hard bristles can scratch your diamond or setting, reducing its sparkle and lowering its value.
• Avoid thick lotions and creams: These can result in residue build-up on your ring, making it look and feel dirty, and causing discolouration, especially on white gold or platinum bands.
• Remove your ring during hands-on activities: Take off your wedding band during activities such as gardening, cleaning, moving furniture, or exercising. This will reduce exposure to harsh chemicals and prevent knocking it against hard surfaces, reducing wear and tear.
• Store your ring safely: When not wearing your ring, store it in a fabric-lined jewellery box separate from other pieces to prevent scratches.
• Avoid resizing: Try to avoid resizing your ring multiple times. Instead, store it in a safe place until it fits again. Re-sizing can make the metal more fragile and susceptible to long-term damage.
• Get professional maintenance: Schedule maintenance appointments with your jeweller at least once a year to check that the prongs are tight, the diamond isn't loose, and there are no hairline cracks in the shank.
• Clean regularly: Clean your wedding band at home using warm water and a mild dishwashing soap. Soak the ring for 20-30 minutes, then gently brush with a soft toothbrush to remove any residue. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a soft cloth.

By following these steps, you can maintain the shine and brilliance of your wedding band between polishes.

How to avoid scratching a wedding band

Wedding rings are made to be worn every day, but this constant exposure to the elements can leave them vulnerable to scratches and scrapes. While it is impossible to avoid all scratches, there are steps you can take to minimise the risk of scratching your wedding band.

Firstly, it is important to understand that the type of metal your ring is made of will determine how susceptible it is to scratching. Platinum is the toughest metal, followed by 18-carat gold. 14-carat gold is slightly more prone to scratching due to its higher silver content, while 9-carat gold is highly susceptible to marking and is not recommended for wedding bands, especially those with detailed engraving.

To avoid scratches, it is recommended that you remove your wedding ring before any activities that could cause it to come into contact with other metals, such as keys or door handles. This includes activities such as going to the gym, carrying out housework or manual labour, washing the dishes, carrying a suitcase, gardening, or closing the car door. It is also advisable to take off your ring before swimming, as the chemicals in pool water or the ocean can be abrasive to metals and stones. Lotion can also dull the appearance of jewellery.

When cleaning your ring at home, avoid using paper towels as these can scratch the metal. Instead, use a soft cloth to dry your ring after cleaning.

Finally, to keep your ring in optimal condition, it is recommended that you have it professionally cleaned and polished about once a year.

How to fix scratches on a wedding band

Wedding rings are often made of gold, which is a soft metal that is prone to scratches. Even the toughest precious metals are not immune to scratching. Platinum, for example, is a durable metal, but it can still be scratched.

If you want to prevent scratches, it is recommended that you take off your wedding ring before doing any manual labour, such as housework or gardening. It is also advised to avoid wearing your ring when handling chemicals, such as chlorine, as this can weaken gold and cause it to break.

If your wedding band has already been scratched, there are several ways to fix it. For light scratches, you can soak your ring in warm water and a few drops of liquid detergent for about 5 minutes. Then, rinse and dry the ring with a cloth. After that, use a polishing cloth to buff out the scratches. You can do this once a month or once every 2-3 months.

For deeper scratches, it is best to take the ring to a professional jeweller. They can use high-pressure steam and an ultrasonic machine to clean and polish the ring. They will also be able to check that any stones and prongs are secure. It is recommended that you get your ring professionally cleaned and polished about once a year.

If your wedding band is made of white gold, it may need to be re-plated when its shine dulls. This is because white gold usually has a slightly yellow tinge, which is masked by a rhodium plating. Re-plating can also help to reduce the appearance of small scratches.

Frequently asked questions