Due to the current pandemic, your use of hand sanitizers has skyrocketed! Apart from the bottle in your bag, your hands are sprayed with disinfectants everywhere you go. Spray, rub and repeat. Of course, health and safety are of top priority, especially during these tough times. But with your consistent and repeated hand sanitation, have you ever wondered how it affects your wedding ring? How can you practice good hand hygiene while keeping your ring happy? Scroll down as we clear it out for you.
There are two types of hand sanitizers: alcohol-based and alcohol-free based. The alcohol-based sanitizers are mixed with isopropyl or ethyl alcohol, which may not directly ‘damage’ your wedding ring but you may notice it losing its shine. This is due to the chemical residues left from the hand sanitizer. Whereas, the alcohol-free sanitizers can mitigate its brilliance and metal shine as it contains chlorine-based formulas. While hand sanitizers eliminate the growth of bacteria, frequent and direct contact to hand sanitizers can harm your wedding ring, especially on white gold. This type of ring is formed from a layer of rhodium, meaning rubbing alcohol can wear it off easily. Likewise, hand sanitizers should not be in contact with organic and delicate gemstones such as pearls, amber, and coral, as it can dry out the gems and lead to cracking. Basically, you should avoid direct application of hand sanitizers to your wedding ring.
Washing your hands with your wedding ring on shares the same story with hand sanitizers. Soaps contain strong ingredients and while it will not directly ‘damage’ your wedding ring, constant handwashing can break down the brilliance over time. Hence, if you do wear your ring all the time, we recommend you to put a little dish close to your sink, or if you’re outside, a small jewelry case will be handy to keep your wedding ring while you scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. If possible, it is also advised to disinfect your ring daily as it may potentially get contaminated with harmful bacteria. Clean it distinctly and thoroughly to get rid of the germs from around and under your ring.
Overall, you don’t have to get rid of your hand sanitizers to be able to save your wedding ring! All the more that we should not neglect the constant need for sanitation. However, it is essential to be aware of the different ways to look after that shiny wedding jewelry! Here are some tips that you can follow to maintain the beauty and value of your wedding ring, while at the same time, practice good hand hygiene:
- Use a dry brush to gently flick out obvious surface dirt
- Prepare a mild detergent and use a soft bristle brush to clean the deep-seated dirt
- Rinse your ring with water
Thinking of not sanitizing your wedding ring every day? Do yourself a favor by taking your wedding ring off and keeping it in a safe place until this pandemic is over. You wouldn’t want a reservoir of bacteria/viruses hiding beneath your wedding ring, would you?
