How to care for cubic zirconia rings

When was the last time you cleaned your rings? Or any jewellery for that matter? Don’t worry; we’re not here to judge. Instead, let’s show you how to care for cubic zirconia rings so you can bring that sparkly gem back to life. We’ll cover how to clean the gems, the band, as well as how to keep it cleaner for longer. Plus, what to avoid to ensure you don’t damage your CZ rings.

How to Clean Cubic Zirconia Rings

Like any piece of jewellery, cleaning your rings ensures they remain tarnish-free and sparkling. CZ jewellery with little nooks and crannies can quickly get dirty with stuck debris. This build-up can wear your gems and metal quicker than usual. Plus, they can harbour a surprising amount of bacteria if not cleaned frequently. This is especially the case for rings because our hands come into contact with so many things throughout the day. Some studies have found Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Black mould and Fungal species in rings. YUK!

So, get those rings off and have them a good clean; here’s how.

What you need to clean CZ rings

Cleaning your cubic zirconia rings does not have to take very long, and you will likely have everything you need to clean them already at home.

Things you will need:

• A soft cloth, preferably lint-free.
• Cleaning gloves.
• A container to mix the cleaning solution. A mug or Tupperware work well.
• A soft-bristled brush like a toothbrush.
• Washing up liquid or mild liquid soap.
• Cool water for rinsing, warm water for cleaning and boiling water to sterilise.
• Some long tweezers or thin tongs.

We always advise wearing washing up gloves when cleaning jewellery to protect your hands even from the mildest of soaps.

How to clean the ring’s gems

Now you’ve got everything together, here’s how to effectively clean your gemmed ring.

• Mix your cleaning solution. To begin, create a cleaning solution. First, select a container that can easily fit your cleaning brush. Next, mix a few drops of washing up liquid or liquid soap in warm water in your chosen container. To start, soak the ring in the solution for 30 minutes. The soaking process will loosen dirt.
• Deep clean the ring. Take your brush and swish it around in the solution, ensuring that the bristles are thoroughly wet. Then, holding the ring with gloves, gently scrub it using the brush. Make sure to get into all the edges and corners. Once you are happy that you’ve scoured each area of the piece, you will need to rinse with clean, cool water. Try to make sure that you rinse off the suds so that no soapy residue is left over. Next, check the ring over again to make sure no dirt remains.
• Polish the ring Once thoroughly rinsed, use a dry, soft cloth that is preferably lint-free to polish your jewellery piece. For extra dirty details, create a new cleaning solution and use a fresh piece of material dipped in the cleaning solution and polish each surface. This polishing includes the band of the ring, both inside and out. You should repeat this process until the gems and metal are shining.
• Steam to sterilise This step is not essential but will ensure the ring is entirely free of bacteria. To finish, boil your kettle or a pan of water with a lid. Then, using a pair of long-stemmed tweezers, hold your ring carefully over the steam. If you don’t have any tweezers you can safely hold, a fork can be used to hold the ring instead. Ensure you are at a safe distance from the spout and wear oven gloves to avoid scolding yourself.

What to Avoid when cleaning CZ rings

A few things to absolutely avoid when cleaning your ring includes;

• Avoid harsh cleaners like bleach, chlorine, and ammonia. These cleaning products should not be used on cubic zirconia, as they could damage your jewellery.
• Avoid natural cleaners like essential oils and vinegar. They may react with the metals in your ring and cause tarnishing.
• Only use a soft brush to clean, otherwise, you may scratch the gems or band. Also, only use a soft cloth to buff and polish to avoid scratches too.

Proper Storage & Care When Wearing

Once your cubic zirconia ring is properly polished, make sure you look after it to keep it in tip-top condition. Here are some ways you can ensure it keeps its shine for longer.

• When not wearing it, store it in a softbox or ring holder to avoid it being scratched. If travelling, a jewellery bag can be used to stop rings rubbing against each other, or other jewellery, in your luggage.
• Take the ring off when you are doing activities that could damage it. Gardening and cleaning should be avoided in case you dent the ring. Plus, this will reduce the number of bacteria.
• Take off your rings if you plan to put lotion or oils on your hands. They could damage the gem setting, plus they will attract dirt.
• Clean your rings frequently. Follow the instructions above frequently to keep your rings and their gems sparkling for years to come.

Caring for Jewellery

If you want to learn more about caring for your jewellery, head to our blog. Not only do we share How To’s on jewellery cleaning and care but we also showcase trends, styling and look books. If you’ve enjoyed this article, here are a few you might like; How to clean jewellery, how to store jewellery and how to untangle a necklace.