Is it OK to clean diamonds with toothpaste?
May 23rd, 2009
Twizz1234 asked:
The other day, I cleaned my diamond (the stone part only) with a tiny dab of toothpaste, very gently with a toothbrush. It worked extremely well. However, I have seen about 15% of the websites over the internet saying that toothpaste should not be used since it is too abrasive.
The other day, I cleaned my diamond (the stone part only) with a tiny dab of toothpaste, very gently with a toothbrush. It worked extremely well. However, I have seen about 15% of the websites over the internet saying that toothpaste should not be used since it is too abrasive.
A) Isnt a diamond one of the hardest substances found in nature? If so, then how can toothpaste scratch it? The average person brushes their teeth (2 times a day x 365 days a year x 60 years =) 43,800 times with toothpaste! If it was so abrasive, would we even have teeth left after that much brushing?
B) Someone said toothpaste works by leaving a film over your teeth to protect it. I find that really weird. I usually brush my tongue every morning and I have never noticed any film accumulating on it. Does anyone think that it is true?
Thanks for your help.
Entry Filed under: Diamonds
9 Comments
1. Junto America | May 26th, 2009 at 8:12 am
You would think that a diamond would be pretty much invulnerable, but you want to protect the setting and the surface sheen which could be abraded even slightly.
mix one part ammonia (or Mr. Clean) with four parts warm water
add a small amount of mild dishwashing liquid
soak for approximately 10 minutes
scrub gently with a new soft toothbrush (used for jewelry cleaning only)
dip the jewelry repeatedly in the solution
rinse with warm to hot tap water
pat dry with a lint-free cloth
2. porcelina_68 | May 27th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
You shouldn’t use toothpaste to clean a diamond. They really are too abrasive, and even though a diamond is the hardest substance on earth, they can still be scratched. Not to mention that most toothpaste that is on the market today has whitening (bleaching) agents in it.
3. jennifer k | May 28th, 2009 at 4:16 am
I don’t agree with that. I ahve been married for 7 years and have a lovely diamond and gold wedding set. I have always cleaned it using a soft brush toothbrush and toothpaste and it has worked great! Obviouly you wouldn’t be scrubbing it so hard that it’s too abrasive. No scratches or imperfections here!
4. Mz. M | May 29th, 2009 at 5:22 am
It is best to get it cleaned at the jewelry store.
5. tqpinklady | May 30th, 2009 at 6:13 am
most definitely.
6. Corina | June 1st, 2009 at 8:18 am
Diamonds ARE the hardest substance on Earth. They are a 10 on the Moh’s hardness scale. That being said, another diamond can scratch a diamond - so they can be abraided.
Toothpaste will not hurt your diamond, but it is definitly not the best cleaner for your stone. Check out Connoisseurs Jewelry cleaner - it’s cheap, and available in a red bottle at most Wal-Marts or jewelry stores.
Many substances (toothpaste included) leaves film on diamonds. Hairspray, makeup, perfume, etc…also does this. Jewelry cleaner and Windex will not do this, so it will clean your diamond to a higher level.
Also - any decent jewelry store will clean and check your diamond for free whenever you want it….just ask next time you go to the mall!
7. JeepJeep!!! | June 2nd, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I have cleaned my diamonds & gold & silver for years with toothpaste & a toothbrush works better than jewelry cleaner.
8. stephaniemorosi2 | June 4th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
use denture tablets
they are the best on all jewelry
9. Rochelle N | June 7th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
If you don’t have Jewelery cleaner you can use toothpaste. It won’t hurt the diamond. My diamond band is still wonder full after six years.