Platinum is another fairly safe metal. It doesn't react at all with the chemicals in hand sanitizer, although it's still best to avoid it and keep up with regular cleaning to avoid any residue that will dull the shine. White gold, on the other hand, is more likely to be damaged by hand sanitizer.
Platinum and diamonds are both naturally tough metals and aren't chemically reactive to alcohol, however, your ring could lose brilliancy by constantly exposing it to hand sanitizing ingredients.
When washing your hands with gentle soap and warm water your engagement ring is totally fine; no need to stress about taking it on and off. You should definitely be taking your engagement ring off to apply hand sanitizer, however.
1. Is hand sanitizer safe for jewelry? Generally speaking, hand sanitizer is safe for all hard stones and precious metals such as silver, platinum, titanium and other plated rings.
Whether it be alcohol or non-alcohol based hand sanitizer, both can cause irreversible damage to your ring. Repeated use of alcohol based hand sanitizer can diminish the brilliance of your stones and metal shine, and loosen your engagement ring prongs. It can also cause buildup between your stones and metal.
A: Hand sanitizer is made up of rubbing alcohol and will not hurt diamonds or damage the integrity, value, or brilliance of your stone. However, excessive and repeated exposure to cleaning agents or hand sanitizer can make the finish on white gold wear a little faster.
"If possible you should avoid rubbing hand sanitizer or harsh cleaning products directly onto your ring," they explained. "The best option is to remove your ring, apply hand sanitizer, let it dry, and then put your ring back on."
From rubbing alcohol to vodka, keep it away from your jewelry. Alcohol can dry out the natural oils in gemstones like opals and emeralds, which again, can cause them to crack.
Yes! To clean your jewelry using isopropyl rubbing alcohol, fill a small bowl with it—just enough to fully cover the piece you wish you clean. Leave the jewelry to soak in the bowl for a few minutes. Alcohol dries completely clear on metal surfaces so there is no need to rinse it off with water.
Mix 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup warm water. Add 1/2 teaspoon of ammonia based household cleaner (like a glass cleaner such as Windex) Soak your jewelry in the solution for about 5 minutes & then gently scrub with a soft-toothbrush. Air dry or carefully towel-dry with paper towel or regular cloth.
Platinum is also very safe because it doesn't react with the chemicals in hand sanitiser. However, you still want to avoid it and ensure it's regularly cleaned to stop the shine of the metal from being dulled. White gold is likely to be damaged by sanitisers.
Can you wear platinum in the shower? A similar scenario to gold, you should refrain from wearing your platinum jewelry in the shower as it will reduce its shine and luster. Water itself will not harm the platinum, but it well affect the overall look of it down the road.
To clean your platinum jewelry, mix the dish soap and a couple drops of ammonia in warm water. Add your platinum jewelry and let it soak for a minute or two, or leave it for up to ten minutes for intricate or especially dirty pieces. Use the toothbrush to scrub your jewelry gently.
Believe it or not, the chemicals present in everyday products like cleaning supplies, perfumes, hairsprays, etc. can be quite harsh. They can weaken the structure of your precious metal over a period of time. Also, the chlorine present in swimming pools can ruin the platinum's shine and cause discoloration.
Platinum has a hardness of 4 – 4.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Basically, this means it can be scratched by any harder material.
Platinum is not a hard metal. It is 4 – 4.5 on the MOHs scale of hardness. This means it can be scratched by anything harder than it is. Diamond is ten on the MOHs scale and can easily scratch platinum.
If you'd like to disinfect your jewelry, you can use regular household isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as long as the jewelry is solid gold or platinum and is only set with diamond, ruby, or sapphire. Take care with any other kind of stones and use a gentler form of cleaning.
When newly pierced earrings are brought home, it is important to ensure that they are properly sterilized before wear. To do this, the first step is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Next, submerge the earrings in a solution of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes.
Soak overnight night to allow the grime or debris to loosen. Once the jewelry has soaked for at least 8 hours use a soft cotton swab or cloth to remove any grime or debris. Lightly rinse by submerging.
Other jewelry materials you can safely clean with alcohol include tungsten, silver-plated titanium, and platinum. Because these materials are stable and solid, they should be safe to clean with alcohol.
At the end of the day, hand sanitizer isn't going to harm hard gemstones like diamonds and sapphires. However, if you are wearing softer jewels like opal or pearl, it's simply not worth the risk to expose them to abrasives like hand sanitizer.
Use dish soap and warm water for most metals, gems, and crystals. “Most jewelry, whether it's a diamond or rose quartz, can be safely cleaned with dish soap and warm water,” said McKenzie Santimer, museum manager and designer at the Gemological Institute of America.
3. Showering & Washing Your Hands. You're not the only one to wonder, "can I shower with my engagement ring?" And we're here to put the matter to rest once and for all with a big no, please, don't. It's just not worth the risk and the wear.
Windex won't hurt your ring, but it isn't a great cleaner either. So stick to mild soap and water, and six-month cleanings and check-ups at your jeweler.
For a quick cleaning solution for gold and diamond jewelry, try a little isopropyl alcohol. You can fill a small container with some alcohol and drop your jewelry directly into the solution. Let it soak briefly and then remove the item. The nice thing about alcohol is that it will dry clear.