How to Stop Rings from Rusting

Co-authored by Nicole Wegman

Last Updated: July 26, 2022 References

Noticing a spot of rust on a favorite ring of yours can be a real bummer. Rings made out of pure metals like silver and gold shouldn’t rust, but inexpensive costume or fashion rings can definitely rust if they get wet. Luckily, there are many ways you can prevent your rings from rusting to keep them looking nice and shiny on your fingers and prolong their lifespans. You can use many of these same techniques to prevent tarnishing as well, since both rusting and tarnishing occur because of exposure to air and humidity. Follow this easy guide to keep your rings shiny and rust-free!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Moisture Protection

1
Remove rings before you shower, swim, or wash your hands. Take off your rings any time you’re doing these activities or any other activity that involves getting your hands wet, such as washing dishes. Try to avoid bringing rings into the bathroom as much as possible because bathrooms are full of moisture and humidity.^{[1]
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- Exposure to moisture is the leading cause of rust and tarnish, so keeping your rings as dry as possible is one of the best ways to prevent these reactions. Always try to avoid exposing your rings to humid and damp areas.
- Naturally, it won’t always be possible to remove your rings before you go into a public restroom or something of the like, but you could take them off and put them in your pocket to keep them dry while you do your business and wash your hands.
2
Dry off your rings right away whenever they accidentally get wet. Take the wet rings off your fingers. Wipe off all the moisture, inside and out, with a clean, dry towel or cloth of some kind.^{[2]
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- Make sure your hands are completely dry before you put your rings back on as well.
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3
Spray your rings with a jewelry protectant spray for a quick solution. There are many commercial jewelry protectant sprays available that create a barrier to water and air. Purchase a bottle of spray and follow the directions on the packaging to apply it to your rings.^{[3]
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- These sprays are also helpful if your skin reacts to certain rings. The protective spray is hypoallergenic and can prevent things like rashes and hives on your fingers.
4
Coat inexpensive rings in clear nail polish to seal them permanently. Pull the brush out of a bottle of clear nail polish and wipe off the excess nail polish on the edge of the jar. Apply a thin, even coat of the nail polish all over the metal parts of the rings you want to protect from rust.^{[4]
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- You can do this for cheap costume jewelry, for example. Don’t do this for expensive silver or gold rings. Those types of rings shouldn’t rust anyways.^{[5]
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  Expert Source
  
  Nicole Wegman
  Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge
  Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.}
5
Avoid exposing your rings to hair products and makeup. These products may be handy for you, but they contain chemicals that often cause metal jewelry like rings to react in unwanted ways. Apply all your personal grooming products before you put your rings on or take your rings off momentarily while you get all pretty.^{[6]
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- Examples of hair products to avoid include shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, gel, and mousse.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Oxidation Removal

1
Get rid of rust using toothpaste and an old toothbrush. Squeeze some toothpaste out onto an old toothbrush and scrub it all over a rusted ring. Rinse the ring off thoroughly and dry it off using a clean towel.^{[7]
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- You can repeat this as many times as needed to get rid of the rust.
- You can use something sharp like a nail to scrape remaining rust out of any nooks and crannies after you put toothpaste on your ring.
2
Soak rings in warm, soapy water for 15 minutes to clean off light oxidation. Fill a bowl or small container with warm water and a squeeze of liquid dish detergent. Place the rings you want to clean in the cleaning solution and let them sit for 15 minutes, then rinse them off thoroughly under running water.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Nicole Wegman
Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge
Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.} Dry off the rings immediately using a soft, clean cloth, then let them air dry completely for 15-30 minutes.^{[9]
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- This removes any residue or grime on your rings that could contribute to rusting and helps restore their shine.
- If you see any stuck-on residue after soaking, you can gently scrub it off with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
3
Let rings sit in white vinegar for 5 minutes to remove heavier oxidation. Put about 1/2 a cup of white vinegar in a container and place your dirty or tarnished rings in the vinegar. Let them sit for 5 minutes, then take them out and rinse them off thoroughly. Dry the rings off with a clean, soft cloth and let them air dry for 15-30 minutes before you use them.^{[10]
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- Vinegar is a safe, natural cleaner that you can use on any of your rings to remove oxidation.
- Avoid using commercial and harsh chemical cleaners on your rings.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Storage

1
Put your rings in tightly sealed bags. Place your rings in any kind of sealable bags you have handy, such as clear zip-top plastic bags. Squeeze out as much air as you can, then seal the bags to keep the rings away from air and moisture.^{[11]
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- It’s also a good idea to keep silver rings away from rings made out of other metals, so put any silver rings you own into their own bags.^{[12]
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2
Keep all your rings together in a closed jewelry box. Put all the sealed bags containing the rings into some type of lidded box or container. This helps guard against humidity as well.^{[13]
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- You can keep your rings in a box with all your other jewelry like bracelets, bangles, necklaces, and earrings, or dedicate a container to only your rings. Whatever works best to keep your jewelry organized is great!
3
Place a silicone gel pack in your storage box. Put a silicone gel pack in each sealed bag with your rings or just put one into the box or container where you keep your rings. These packs soak up any extra humidity and moisture that finds its way near your prized rings.^{[14]
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- You can usually find these types of gel packs in shoe boxes and reuse them instead of buying them.
4
Keep your rings in a cool, dry place and away from sunlight. Place the box containing your rings somewhere convenient like on top of a dresser or in a closet. Keep it away from windows and other sources of moisture and sunlight.^{[15]
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- Other ideas for places to store your rings are inside dresser drawers, on a bookshelf, or on a nightstand.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I prevent my rings from rusting?

Nicole Wegman
Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge
Nicole Wegman is the Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a New York City-based fine jewelry brand. Specializing in engagement ring and wedding band trends, Ring Concierge creates a luxury experience catered towards millennials. Ring Concierge offers engagement rings along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. Nicole's work and Ring Concierge have been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Who What Wear, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and Cosmopolitan. Nicole is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Accredited Jewelry Professional and holds a BS in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University.

Nicole Wegman

Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge

Expert Answer

You can clean the rings weekly with some jewelry cleaner. Soak them in the solution for a few minutes, scrub with a jewelry brush, rinse with warm water, and dry them.
Question

Can expensive rings get rusted?

Nicole Wegman
Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge
Nicole Wegman is the Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a New York City-based fine jewelry brand. Specializing in engagement ring and wedding band trends, Ring Concierge creates a luxury experience catered towards millennials. Ring Concierge offers engagement rings along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. Nicole's work and Ring Concierge have been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Who What Wear, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and Cosmopolitan. Nicole is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Accredited Jewelry Professional and holds a BS in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University.

Nicole Wegman

Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge

Expert Answer

Usually, expensive rings do not get rusted. Yellow gold does not tarnish. Even platinum has a stable color, and you don't have to worry about maintaining it.
Question

Is it better to buy a ring made of white gold or platinum?

Nicole Wegman
Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge
Nicole Wegman is the Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge, a New York City-based fine jewelry brand. Specializing in engagement ring and wedding band trends, Ring Concierge creates a luxury experience catered towards millennials. Ring Concierge offers engagement rings along with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets. Nicole's work and Ring Concierge have been featured in Vogue, Glamour, Who What Wear, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and Cosmopolitan. Nicole is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) Accredited Jewelry Professional and holds a BS in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University.

Nicole Wegman

Jewelry Professional & Founder of Ring Concierge

Expert Answer

White gold has a base of yellow gold and plating of rhodium. The plating wears off over the years, and the yellow color becomes visible. But platinum has a consistent color. Even if you use the ring regularly, the color does not change. So a platinum ring is better.

Warnings

Moisture is the number one enemy of rings, so always do your best to keep them away from water. Water containing chemicals, such as chlorine, and saltwater are even worse for them.

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