I have been using this simple DIY jewelry cleaner for 20 years now since I got engaged.
This is a recipe I have done for so many years, I didn’t realize I have never shared it on Chemistry Cachet. After seeing some crazy harsh methods on instagram this past few months, I thought it would be helpful to share this with you.
For reference, I have white gold wedding rings and this is gentle to use on them. A jeweler recommended this to me in 2006 when I went in to get my engagement ring cleaned, so I have trusted it for decades now.
Simple DIY Jewelry Cleaner (Especially Rings)
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of warm water (NOT hot or boiling, just tap water warm)
- 2 drops of dawn dish soap
- Small jar
- Microfiber polishing cloth and/or soft bristled brush like a baby toothbrush
- Find all the items needed for this post here
Directions:
- Add the 2 drops of dawn dish soap to a jar, then top it with 1/2 cup of warm water.
- Give the mixture a gentle stir to make sure the soap is incorporated.
- Gently place your jewelry inside the jar, I usually add 1 to 2 pieces of jewelry to the jar.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Remove the jewelry and clean/buff the surface with a jewelry polishing microfiber cloth making sure the entire surface is dry.
The Science Behind This Simple DIY Jewelry Cleaning Method:
One of the easiest and most effective ways to clean jewelry is using warm water and just a couple drops of Dawn dish soap. The science behind it is very simple!
Dish soap is designed to break down grease. Soap molecules have two sides: one side attracts water, while the other side attracts oils and dirt. Jewelry naturally collects oils from your skin, along with residue from lotions, makeup, and everyday wear.
When dish soap is added to water, the oil-loving side of the soap grabs onto that buildup, while the water-loving side allows it to be rinsed away. Warm water makes this process even more effective. Heat helps loosen hardened oils and residue, allowing the soap to reach into small crevices and under stones where grime tends to hide. This is especially helpful for rings and detailed pieces.
Only two drops of Dawn are needed because it’s highly concentrated and formulated to cut through grease efficiently. With gentle soaking or light brushing, the soap lifts away dirt and buildup without being harsh on most metals and gemstones. Two drops is usually the perfect ratio for gentle cleaning!
In short, warm water loosens the grime, dish soap breaks it apart, leaving your jewelry clean, bright, and sparkling again.
How Often To Use Should You Use This Homemade Jewelry Cleaner?
It is safe to use every few months or as needed. Sometimes, I only use it a few times a year depending on how dirty my rings get.
I have white gold rings, so I take them in about once a year to the jeweler.
I did a google search when I was making this blog post to see what jewelry experts recommended, and I was surprised to see just about every expert also recommended this type of recipe. Most of them were almost identical to this one. This store had a good post recommending this recipe and also shared what to avoid when it comes to DIY recipes and jewelry.
What Other Cleaning Methods Work For Cleaning Jewelry?
If you want to go a step further, I highly recommended using an ultrasonic cleaner. Small, affordable ultrasonic cleaning machines are a perfect choice for cleaning jewelry because they use gentle sound waves to lift dirt, oils, and buildup from tiny crevices that are hard to reach by hand. They’re safe for everyday jewelry, easy to use at home, and deliver professional-level results in just minutes. Best of all, you don’t need harsh chemicals or expensive cleanings to bring sparkle back to your favorite pieces.
I recommend these two methods for keeping all your jewelry clean in the easiest way!
What If This Doesn’t Work?
If you use this simple cleaning recipe and your rings still look dirty, I would definitely check out the ultrasonic cleaner machine. This gets everything so clean! I would also take your jewelry to your local jeweler to have them inspect it.
And don’t forget, while this recipe is super mild and safe for just about anything, it is very important to ALWAYS test a small surface first on anything when you are making a homemade solution.
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Thank you, this sounds to easy but I like that there are no harsh chemicals. I also think who ever discovered Dawn was brilliant! Dawn will clean everything. My husband was bringing me a very melted peanut butter toast- It of course flipped off onto my new carpet peanut butter side down. I googled how to clean it-warm water& 2 TBSP of Dawn. It worked no spot. Last week I came home find a big 4-5 inch round blood spot on the same new carpet, my husband cut his toenails but didn’t know one had sliced his skin on his toe & it bled a lot. Back to Google, warm water & 2 TBSP of Dawn and Tbsp of white vinegar. Using clean cotton rags on both spots, it worked perfectly!
It’s just great. Thank you so much!
Totally agree! Dawn is always the base to our DIY cleaners because the formula is the absolute best!
Back when I worked in a drapery workroom, pin pricks happened, Hydrogen Peroxide saved many panels.