I’m one of those people who rarely takes my jewelry off (I once slept in the same earrings for almost a year…). The last time I cleaned my wedding ring might have been before Greta was born! It doesn’t look dirty because I’m constantly washing my hands, but I know the lotions and oils do build up in the setting and on the stone, and I’ve been on a mission to research the best jewelry cleaners on the market.
There are basically three types of jewelry cleaners that I found: First is the ultrasonic cleaners that gently shake free any sediment or soften stuck particles enough to rinse out. The second option is the one your grandma probably had and still has: the chemical solution container. They’ve been on the market for decades, and it seems they haven’t changed much because people are still so loyal to them! The third category is an “on-the-go” cleaner, which includes dry polishing wipes, mini brush sticks filled with cleanser, or a cleanser and separate brush. And I am here to test them all!
This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.
Shop All Tested Jewelry Cleaners
The Test
I picked up some sets of costume jewelry rings with faux stones that I could get really dirty. I dipped 12 of the rings into brownie batter and let them dry, and another 12 into paint and let them dry. The next day, I tried cleaning the rings with the assortment of products, from ultrasonic cleaners to soaking vessels to brush cleaners.
I tested 5 ultrasonic cleaners that were pretty similar in operation. All had plug-in wall cords, and all you fill with water and drop your jewelry into a small basket. A screen will show a 180-second countdown that you can extend. Ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to remove dirt, but they’re not recommended for softer gems like emeralds, pearls, and opals (or any stone that is loose!) It’s recommended to use distilled water over tap water to avoid mineral build-up, and adding a couple drops of mild dish soap and white vinegar can enhance the cleaning process. I just used tap water this time to get the baseline.
For the drop-in cups, one suggested 30 seconds, one suggested up to 3 minutes, and one suggested up to 30 minutes. I did the 30 seconds as requested, but only did the other two with three minutes each. Each came with a small brush to use after soaking in the solution.
The stick cleaners were just uncapped, twisted until the product appeared, and applied to the rings. The dry wipe was rubbed across the gems and the band of the rings.
My Top 3 Tried-and-Tested Jewelry Cleaners
Shinery Jewelry Wash & Radiance Brush – $64.99
- Aesthetics: This one has very elevated packaging. It looks like a high-end spa product. There’s not really a smell, and the brush feels very expensive. Like a good make-up brush.
- How to Use It: Just dispense the cleaner into your hand, then wash your hands like normal, focusing on the rings. I actually LOVE this because I rarely take off my rings, and this is something I would just add to my routine. Then you can use the brush to get into the crevices, but it’s not essential.
- Overall impressions: This one did really well on the chocolate-covered ring, partially because I’m using my own hands to clean it, and then the surface area of the brush is larger than all the other ones combined! The paint lifted a little, and I could peel it off. It’s like the best of both worlds. Because I liked this one, I used it on my own wedding ring too. Then I did a double-take…wow, it really DOES look so much clearer and shinier. This one is the keeper for me, 1st place out of 10.
Magnasonic Ultrasonic Cleaner – $39.99
- Aesthetics: This is one of the nicer-looking sonic cleaners, with an oval shape and an attached lid. It has a stainless-steel look.
- How to Use It: Once you plug it in, the machine lights up with 180, and you press on to get it started. You can visibly see slight shaking – easy to watch jewelry. It sounds like an angry hummingbird while cleaning, but the DBA was the lowest of the sonic cleaners at 62.
- Overall impressions: Cleaned better than all of the other ultrasonics. Two of the diamonds no longer had chocolate on them, and the chocolate on the other diamonds was thinner and not as visible. The paint was peelable after its soak! This one seemed the most effective of the ultrasonic cleaners; it is attractive and quieter than the others. Check, check, and check. It takes 2nd place out of 10.
Baublerella Bling Brush– $23.85
- Aesthetics: This gold “pen” has a shiny exterior with really nice packaging. It could make a great stocking stuffer at a great price point.
- How to Use It: This is so easy; you just twist the product up. The liquid is clear, so I couldn’t tell when the tip was wet, but it went on easily.
- Overall impressions: I feel like a professional ring cleaner using this: it gets into all the crevices! Wow, the ring stones actually DO look clearer and dazzling than. I didn’t even need to wash the ring to feel like it looked good after chocolate. It did nothing to the paint—the brush isn’t strong enough. But, it’s no mess, no need to rinse, and no smell. And the price is great! This is 3rd out of 10 for me!
The Rest of the Jewelry Cleaners I Tested
Connoisseurs Diamond Dazzle Stik – $9.48
- Aesthetics: A soft blue and silver pen-like shape. Not that imposing, but also not as subtle as the other stick options.
- How to Use It: Love the handy small size. Remove the blue cap and twist the silver end until the blue shows on the “paintbrush”. But I had to turn for a while until I got that feeling. Then there was blue goo! Fast! ahh
- Overall impressions: Smell isn’t unpleasant, just a little floral citrus scent. Did nothing to the paint. Still hard as a rock. Great job on the chocolate ring. I think a combo of the ultrasonic and this brush would do wonders. Tested this on the mag winner chocolate ring, and it loosened everything up so it washed off neatly. Definitely nice. Left the stones a bit cloudy—the stick says to wash and dry the jewelry afterward. This was a close 4th to the other options above, and the price couldn’t be better!
Visiclean Ultrasonic Cleaner – $79.99
- Aesthetics: A boxy white and stainless steel container with a removable lid.
- How to Use It: You have to turn the machine onto its side to find the “on” switch before you can press the button. Then it lights up with 180, and you press on. You can add extra time if preferred. High-pitched bee hum – not that bad. Dba: 66
- Overall impressions: During the cleaning process, I could see small clouds of chocolate coming off around the ring. Very satisfying! Actually seemed to peel some of the paint off the larger diamond edges. Chocolate was still thicker on the top and bottom of the bands, but maybe slightly less on the gems themselves. This cleaned decently, but it was the most expensive and didn’t seem worth it.
Ukoke Ultrasonic Cleaner – $21.50
- Aesthetics: A bit more modern-looking with an attached lid. The maximum line for filling with water is hard to see, as it’s in the back. But it is a cute little oval size.
- How to Use It: Plug in the machine and press to start. But the sound is crazy! I’m in a hornet hive. The DBA on this one is 73-76 – loudest by far.
- Overall impressions: It was reasonably effective for what it offered. Got one of the CV diamonds clean and two more half-diamonds cleanish. This is a fine ultrasonic option if you want something really small and priced well!
Kunphy Ultrasonic Cleaner – $9.99 (updated version)
- Aesthetics: This was the smallest of the ultrasonic cleaners I tested. Looks and feels cheaper, which matches the price. Came with one of the biggest plugs! There is an attached lid to the top, but it is fully opaque, so you can’t see inside—such a tease.
- How to Use It: Press a button to start it on red. Then, 10 seconds later, it switched to blue and ran automatically for 3 minutes. Sound is a very low, buzzing, slightly tinny noise. DBA was 66.
- Overall impressions: This ultrasonic cleaner didn’t do much on chocolate. It softened the paint slightly, allowing it to be peeled off. Not worth it.
Life Basis Ultrasonic Cleaner – $34.99
- Aesthetics: A basic white & dark gray container with a removable lid. This one had an awful chemical smell after taking it out of the box, and when operating it. Huge docked points for that and the odd shape.
- How to Use It: When you plug it in, it lights up with blue 180. Press on, and it starts counting down. You can see the water moving slightly. It sounds like an angry buzzing sound that’s pretty loud in the ears. The DBA was 66 on average, but it reached 72—pretty loud.
- Overall impressions: It didn’t really have much of an effect on the rings. Nope, this goes in last place in the ultrasonics for the off-gassing alone.
Brilliant Jewelry Cleaner – $6.95
- Aesthetics: This looks vintage—it’s got that “tried-and-true for decades” vibe. Inside is a pink solution.
- How to Use It: Unscrew the top, then fuss with getting the plastic off because there’s no easy peel side—I had to get a pair of scissors and painfully peel off pieces. Lift up a small inset with a brush on the end, and you can pull it out. After leaving the rings in pink liquid for 3 minutes, take them out and brush them. The tiny brush is like a very thin toothbrush.
- Overall impressions: The bristles are really stiff, so they don’t flow well between the gem pieces sections of chocolate. On the other hand, it did actually move some of the paint off since it had soaked a bit, and the brush was stiff. But even then, the brush was so tiny it was painful, quite literally in my hand. No scent at all. Be careful putting the lid back on: mine shot liquid out. Got my hands all messy. It’s the least expensive of the “containers with solution” and performed the best, if you really like this sort of thing.
Connoisseurs – $9.99
- Aesthetics: It’s bright cherry red—you won’t lose this in your cabinet.
- How to Use It: This container is sealed with a thick, opaque topper that reads “Use within 12 months of opening.” You’re guided to use scissors to get it open! The instructions say to soak your item for up to 30 seconds, which is super short.
- Overall impressions: Even though it has over 77K reviews on Amazon with a 4.5 rating, I just don’t get the appeal. It has a perfumey scent like old flowers. Liquid looks mostly clear. Same stiff black brush as before, but a ¼ inch shorter, which makes it even harder to use. Oddly, it didn’t move any paint at all, unlike the Brilliant one. Must have been the solution and length of time?
Weiman – $9.98
- Aesthetics: The same blue & white container that your grandma probably had. It has the Good Housekeeping seal of approval!
- How to Use It: Blue liquid with a strong ammonia smell (even though it says ammonia-free?!). Gag. Double sealed on top with the thick opaque topper, you’re guided to use scissors. You can soak jewelry up to 30 minutes in the container! I did 3 minutes to stay consistent with the other two soaking solutions. Includes a brush as short as Conniesseurs, but the bristles are a bit stiffer. It could move the paint around.
- Overall impressions: Scent was awful. The solution seemed to dissolve a little more of the chocolate, but the bristles had a hard time getting into the crevices. The rings were still cloudy even when “clean.”
Connoisseurs Jewelry Wipes – $9.99
- Aesthetics: Slim, bright-red case. You could tuck this in a large purse or bag, but the look is not subtle nor elevated.
- How to Use It: Open the case and pull out a small sheet that has a faint citrusy smell. The first thing you’ll wonder is whether it’s supposed to be wet. It’s not.
- Overall impressions: Because it’s a dry wipe, it could only really crumble the chocolate into pieces. The wipe was easy to use on the band of the ring, and polished it OK. But overall, it seemed kind of worthless when it came to gemstones. Wouldn’t spend money on these again!
The winner is…
I have to admit I am smitten with the Shinery Jewelry Wash & Radiance Brush. It exceeded expectations—and is easy and inconspicuous enough that I would use it again and again! Feels like a luxurious gift I’ll be giving to all my girlfriends.
If you prefer an ultrasonic cleaner, the Magnasonic Ultrasonic Cleaner is under $50 and makes cleaning a breeze. It’s quiet. and sleek, and can get a lot of things clean—even your retainer!
Finally, if you’re looking for one you can take on vacation (or just have on hand in your purse), the Baublerella Bling Brush is SO quick and easy to use, you’ll feel like a professional cleaner.
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The owner of the antique jewelry and coin shop swears by the Connoiseurs dip but it’s the WORST I’ve used but their polish cloth (not wipes) are very effective for my silver and gold. I use the blue British Goddard Ammonia free jewelry dip, especially for my silver and it’s BEAUTIFUL when it comes out, gold as well. 2 or 3 minutes, I’ve forgotten bracelets and they weren’t damaged and it’s almost as clean as an ultrasonic. Thanks for putting in the time for the review, I just ran out of the Blitz that came with the ultrasonic cleaner and ordered some new, pro grade stuff from PMC Jewelry supply.
Helpful review. Now will you look at tarnish removers please?? I have some very nice silver jewelry that needs layers of tarnish removed. Thanks.
My grandma taught me to soak jewelry for a couple minutes with warm water and a denture tab, then scrub with a toothbrush and rinse. Works beautifully (and inexpensively)!