Engagement season is officially here and I’m so happy for all the newly engaged couples that have been contacting me! It’s such an exciting time in your life- one that should be celebrated and cherished because it goes by so, so fast! And for all you ladies out there that are now sporting a beautiful new sparkler on your left hand, this post is for you. You may be asking: but what can a photographer tell me about cleaning my engagement ring? Well, here’s my honest answer- my name is Allison and I love diamonds. A lot.  There—I said it!

When my husband proposed 6 years ago, I vowed (no pun intended) to always take care of my new best friend (it’s ok to admit that diamonds really are a girl’s best friend)- and so I set out to find the best way to do just that. And let me tell you friends, it’s so easy to keep your ring sparkly and beautiful! While my friends would tell you I’m kind of obsessed with cleaning my ring, (every morning to be exact), I highly suggest the following cleaning routine.

There are tons of ring cleaners on the market, and I do have some from the jewelry store. But my favorite cleaner, hands down, is Dawn dish soap. You know, the one they use on the cute little ducks that have oil on them in the commercials. I know you know what I’m talking about! If it’s gentle enough to cut grease and oil from baby animals, then it’s certainly going to cut down on the daily grime that gets on your diamond and not harm it in any way. Once you have the Dawn soap, buy a baby toothbrush or a toothbrush that has super soft bristles. And there you have it! Your easy-to-use and super affordable concoction for all the sparkles!

Every morning, I take my rings off at the sink (after clogging the drain first!) and run warm water. I pour a tiny drop of Dawn soap on my rings and scrub it with my ring toothbrush, making sure to get all sides of the diamond. Once I’m done scrubbing, I simply run my rings under the warm water and towel dry. And voila! Sparkles! Even though I do this every morning, you don’t have to be that crazy! Once or twice a week would suffice. I even give my rings a deep soak once a week (see, I told you I’m obsessed) simply by placing my rings in a dish of warm soapy water and keeping them in there for about 30 minutes. This really cuts all the grease and grime that gets on your ring throughout the week! So, there you have it! My simple way to clean diamonds and proudly show off the amazing gift your fiance gave you with the promise of an amazing future! After you’ve cleaned your rings, take a few minutes to look through some of my favorite ring shots I’ve ever taken!