As a newlywed, I am still enchanted with the two white gold rings on my left hand. As the clumsy, messy, and generally absent-minded person that I am, those two rings get scummy and filthy pretty quickly.
While a professional jeweler can clean your rings the best, there is a quick and easy way to do a pr
etty good job at home, without using any harsh chemicals, solvents, or otherwise expensive products. This method is mild enough to work on plated items such as my engagement ring, which has a rhodium coating.
Plop a tablespoon or two of baking soda in a bowl or a jar.
Plop in your rings or other jewelry that needs cleaning.
Carefully pour in about 1/4 cup of white vinegar (I use white vinegar to clean pretty much everything, so I have an 8L jug of it under my sink).
Watch the foam! It’s like a science experiment from elementary school.
Stir the foamy mixture around a bit to make sure all the baking soda has its day in the sun and leave the stuff to sit for a few minutes. Add more vinegar if you’re feeling science-y.
With a soft toothbrush or even a pipe cleaner, give your ring a little scrub, making sure to get into all the little nooks and crannies that hold the grossest of crud, which in my case is the big empty space right under the diamond.
Rinse ’em off and blamo kablam you’ve got your shiny back. (I don’t have a picture for you because it hasn’t been sunny enough here to truly blind you with my diamond shine. Oh Newfoundland.)
Ali Does It Herself 