So show of hands…how many of you have admittedly let your rings get dirty? With work, extra college courses to beef certification, cooking, being a Pre-K teacher (i.e. dealing with glue, paint and glitter) and life in general it’s very easy to neglect ring cleaning.

I’ll never forget being out last summer, seeing and talking with someone I haven’t seen since high school, then flashing them my (admittedly dirty) engagement ring and feeling embarrassed when I realized how dirty it looked as I had forgot to scrub it that week. Naturally, they were extremely pleased to see it and complimented me but I wondered deep down if they were thinking about just how much less shiny it looked (as I was).

Ever since that moment, I have an alarm set on my phone to do this ring cleaning ritual on Friday nights and I’ve always gotten compliments on how shiny and sparkly my rings look and NO for the last time I do not take my rings to the jewelers to clean. Here’s my secret: for years, the women in my family swore by toothpaste (yes you heard right, the stuff you brush your teeth with every morning and night) but those who really know me know that I like to take things from recipes to makeup tips and, well, improve upon them. So, if you’re really looking for a great way to get your rings to shine you do not have to take them to a jeweler to get that brand spanking-new look about them. The materials you need can be found at most local drug or dollar stores and are perfect for the woman on the budget. Ready to make your rings light up like a Christmas tree? Great! Let’s start!

4. A Toothbrush (for dentures)-$1.00 at  DollarTree

Total cost for all four materials: $5.26

Okay, got all the stuff I need! Now what?
Make your cleaning solution in a regular bathroom cup (you know, the plastic one for filling with water to rinse your mouth with when brushing your teeth) and sprinkle just enough baking soda to lightly cover the bottom of the cup. Next you will use two squirts of standard toothpaste and then add 1/4 of the hydrogen peroxide solution cut with 1/4 regular warm water. Mix the concoction together, it won’t look very appealing but it does do the trick for stubborn dirt and grime that gets caught between your prongs.

Once your solution is mixed, take off your rings and allow them to soak for at least 15 minutes (this will allow all the dirt and grime to loosen up and be scrubbed off easier). While they soak you can throw dinner together, take your dog for a walk, watch a recently recorded episode of Total Divas you missed Tuesday night or whatever it is you want to do, feel free to do. Set an alarm on your phone for no more then 20 minutes and pull your rings out of the solution. Begin using the dentures tooth bush to really scrub your entire rings (use whatever side of the dentures brush you feel will yield you more results). After you’ve finished scrubbing, rinse them off with cool water and ta-da! You have a clean, sparkly, not to mention cost efficient way to keep your ring game on point.

Feel free to comment below if you’ve tried this technique and leave your feedback on it, I love hearing from all of you!

Love you. Mean it.

Brittany

xo