What is the best way to clean my engagement ring at home?

The full clean takes five minutes once a week. Fill a small bowl with lukewarm tap water and add one drop of plain dish soap, like Morning Fresh or Sunlight. Drop the ring in and leave it to soak for 20 to 30 minutes, which dissolves the film of skin oils and hand cream that builds up daily. Lift the ring out and brush gently around the centre stone, along the band and under the setting with a soft baby toothbrush, working from underneath so loosened dirt falls away from the prongs. Rinse under running tap water, holding the ring tightly so it does not slip into the drain. Pat dry with a lint-free microfibre cloth.

Weekly is the right cadence for daily-wear rings, especially pave, halo and any setting with melee. Plain solitaires can stretch to fortnightly without obvious dulling, but rings that come into regular contact with hand cream and makeup will still benefit from a weekly soak. Add a deeper clean once a month using a fresh bowl of soapy water and a 30 to 60 minute soak. Book a professional ultrasonic clean and prong inspection every 6 to 12 months, which most jewellers offer free of charge with the purchase. The check is the part that matters more than the polish, since worn prongs are the most common cause of lost stones.