Clean Tungsten Carbide Jewelry

Tungsten carbide, or tungsten as it is commonly called, is an incredibly strong metal. Its scratch and tarnish resistant features make it an ideal metal for individuals who lead an active lifestyle. Cleaning this durable metal is relatively simple—all you need to remove dirt and grime for your tungsten jewelry is warm soapy water and a clean cloth. Do not use harsh chemicals or polishes to buff and shine your tungsten jewelry.

Steps

Removing Dirt from Your Tungsten Carbide Jewelry

  1. Create a solution of water and dish soap. You don’t need to buy an expensive jewelry cleaner to shine and polish your tungsten jewelry. A simple mixture of soapy water and a clean cloth are the only items you need to clean this tough, scratch resistant metal. To prepare the soapy water solution:
    • Add a few drops of liquid soap to the bottom of a small bowl.
    • Fill the small bowl with warm water.
    • Mix the soap and water together until bubbles are formed.[1]
    • Whenever you wash your hands, scrub dishes, or lather up your hair, you are also washing your tungsten ring.
  2. Wipe the surface of your jewelry with a damp cloth. Find a clean, soft cloth. Dip the cloth into the soapy water. Wring out the cloth to remove any excess water. Run the damp cloth over the surface of your tungsten jewelry to remove any built up dirt or grime.
    • If your jewelry has any stones, ridges, or engravings, scrub the item with a toothbrush or cotton bud dipped in the solution.
    • Continue to rub and/or scrub the jewelry until it is clean.[1]
  3. Rinse and dry your jewelry. After washing your jewelry with the warm soapy water, rinse the tungsten accessory in water. Set it on a clean towel to air dry. Once dry, put on your jewelry or store it away in a safe place.
    • If you are rinsing your jewelry under a faucet, make sure the drain is closed.
    • You may also pat the jewelry dry.[1]

Removing Oil from Your Tungsten Carbide Jewelry

  1. Prepare your jewelry and cleaning materials. If your tungsten jewelry becomes coated in oil or lotion, you can remove the slick substance with rubbing alcohol. Retrieve a fresh towel, locate a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and grab a few cotton swabs or balls.
    • Lay the towel on a flat surface.
    • Place your piece of tungsten jewelry on top of the towel.
    • Instead of cotton swabs or balls, you may use a fresh towel.[2]
  2. Wipe your jewelry with a cotton swab or ball soaked in rubbing alcohol. Open your bottle of rubbing alcohol. Place the cotton ball or swab over the bottle’s opening. Tilt the bottle upside down so that the cotton becomes saturated with rubbing alcohol. Return the bottle to its upright position within a few seconds. Wipe the saturated cotton ball or swab over the surface of your tungsten jewelry.
    • You may pour rubbing alcohol into a small dish. Dip the cotton balls or swabs into the dish and then use it to clean the jewelry.
    • You may fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol. Spritz the accessory with the substance and use a cotton ball or swab to wipe it off.[2]
  3. Wash the ring with a mild soap solution. After removing the lotion or oil with rubbing alcohol, clean your jewelry in a solution of warm, soapy water. Gather dish soap, a small dish, warm water, and a clean towel.
    • Put a few drops of liquid soap in the bottom of a small dish.
    • Fill the dish with warm water and mix until bubbles form on the surface.
    • Dip a fresh cloth into the soapy water and use it to wipe down the surface of the jewelry.[3]
  4. Rinse and dry your jewelry. To remove the soap from the jewelry, rinse it under a stream of water. Place the jewelry on a clean towel to air dry or pat it dry with a fresh cloth. Once dry, put on your jewelry or store it somewhere safe.
    • Before rinsing jewelry under a faucet close your sink’s drain.
    • You may also submerge your jewelry in a dish of fresh water.[3]

Caring for and Protecting Your Tungsten Carbide Jewelry

  1. Do not intentionally drop or strike your ring. Tungsten is a strong, durable metal. However, it is not indestructible—it can shatter. Always treat your jewelry with care.
    • Avoid dropping it on purpose.
    • Do not strike your ring with a heavy object, such as a hammer or dumbbell.
    • If you doing something that may lead to the jewelry shattering, such as lifting weights or working on a construction site, take it off.[4]
  2. Limit the jewelry’s contact with harsh cleaning products. While tungsten is a tough metal, it reacts poorly to products such as bleach, ammonia, and chlorine. When tungsten comes into contact with one of these products, the chemicals may blemish the surface of the jewelry.
    • If your tungsten jewelry comes into contact with one of these products, rinse it in a solution of warm soapy water immediately. Once clean, rinse it in fresh water and set it on a towel to air dry.[5]
  3. Limit your use of ultrasonic jewelry cleaners. Tungsten carbide is a ceramic-like substance; it cannot be bent but if enough pressure is applied it can be cracked. Ultrasonic ring cleaners can cause microscopic fractures in your ring. If you prefer to clean your jewelry with and ultrasonic jewelry cleaners, do not leave it in the solution for more than 1 minute.[6]
  4. Store your tungsten jewelry separately. Tungsten is an extremely hard metal. While it is scratch resistant, it is also more likely to scratch and damage jewelry made from softer metals. When storing your tungsten jewelry, place it inside its own soft bag and then put the bag in a safe space.[7]

Tips

  • If you rinse your ring in the sink, make sure the stopper is in -- just in case you drop the ring.
  • If washing does not remove the tarnish then you must use a tarnish remover specifically for tungsten. You may also wish to contact the manufacturer directly.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.tritonjewelry.com/images/Triton_TC_FAQs_2015.pdf
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.tungstenpride.com/tungsten-articles/caring-for-your-tungsten-ring.html, http://www.ask.com/beauty-fashion/clean-tungsten-ring-da818e1fd3c9c8df
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.ask.com/beauty-fashion/clean-tungsten-ring-da818e1fd3c9c8df
  4. ↑ https://www.tungstenringsco.com/page/tungsten-rings-information
  5. ↑ https://www.tungstenringsco.com/page/tungsten-rings-information, http://www.tritonjewelry.com/images/Triton_TC_FAQs_2015.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.tungstenaffinity.com/About-Tungsten-a/148.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.tritonjewelry.com/images/Triton_TC_FAQs_2015.pdf,

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