When it comes to your diamond jewelry, you want that engagement ring or wedding band to shine just as brightly as your relationship with your sweetheart. But years of wear and tear – combined with the dirt and dust we encounter in our everyday lives – can wreak havoc on the glimmer of your fabulous diamond jewelry.

If you’re sick of having your diamond engagement ring look tired and dull, or you want your diamond stud earrings to shine like they day they were first purchased, not to worry. There are steps to clean your diamond jewelry that doesn’t even involve handing it over to a professional jeweler (who has the money to spend on that anyways?). If you want to restore the luster and glamour to your diamond jewelry, follow these easy steps to clean your jewels:

How to Clean Diamond Rings

Cleaning diamond rings is a bit easier than cleaning other types of jewelry, as they’re significantly more durable. However, this doesn’t mean you want to use just anything to clean your diamond rings. Be sure to use a toothbrush with gentle bristles to scrub your diamond until it shines brilliantly again. Before scrubbing the diamond, you may want to soak it in a solution filled with warm water and a very gentle detergent (sensitive laundry detergent will work wonders here). After soaking the diamond jewelry for just a few minutes, take it out of the water and scrub it with the toothbrush.

Here’s a handy tip: your diamond will be slippery when it’s wet. Consider wearing dishwashing gloves when cleaning your diamond jewelry – and stay away from any drains while you’re at it!

Cleaning Silver Diamond Jewelry

If you’re cleaning silver diamond jewelry, you’ll want to use a different method to clean the band. While the toothbrush is excellent for the diamond, you don’t want to end up scratching the delicate silver of your band. After soaking the diamond in the detergent, use a soft flannel cloth to buff the silver band to a beautiful shine.

Cleaning Gold Diamond Jewelry

To clean diamond jewelry with gold bands, you’ll want to use a gentle soap with warm water, as opposed to detergent. After soaking the jewelry for about seven minutes, add a drop of ammonia to the solution. Let it sit for another seven minutes (the jewelry will soak for fourteen minutes total). Use the same toothbrush to buff the gold band as you did with the diamond.

Note that white gold should always be cleaned by a professional, so don’t try this at home!