Rings get stuck on fingers a lot more than we realize. Here is a complete guide on how to remove a stuck engagement ring, written by Afshin Shaddaie, one of the world’s leading jewelers and the author of The Engagement Ring Guide for Men.
Important Note: If the finger is dark red or overly swollen, or if anything looks dangerous about the situation, DO NOT try any home remedies and contact a medical professional immediately.
If the ring is just stuck and it isn’t an emergency, here are all the best techniques to use in order to remove your ring safely. We’ve placed our list in the order from easiest to hardest.
- Cold Water Ring Removal Method
- Removing a Ring with Lubricant
- Windex Ring Removal Method
- Dental Floss Method
- Cutting the Engagement Ring off
1. Cold Water Ring-Removal Method
Dehydration can cause swollen joints, as can excessive salt intake. One reason our bodies retain water is that the brain is already aware of having too little of it available and starts storing it up. This invariably happens around the finger, knee, and ankle joints.
So, how do you remove the ring with the Cold Water Ring-Removal Method:
- Keep the hand elevated above heart level for a minute or two.
- Place your hand in cold water (or icy water) for a few minutes. Try to put the cold water as high as possible in order to keep your hands elevated at the same time.
- Dab a little dish soap around the ring, and then gently turn it as you pull it off.
The elevation of the hand uses gravity to reduce the fluid around the joint, which helps reduce swelling. Iced water also causes the blood vessels to constrict, further reducing swelling almost instantly.
This simple method is painless and free, and will often be enough to allow the removal of many stuck engagement rings.
Note: The Cold Water Ring Removal Method is a favorite choice because it doesn’t rely on any chemicals or oily substances that could possibly harm the skin and ring.
2. Removing a Ring with Lubricant
Although lubricant is usually not good to be placed on an engagement ring, if the earlier step fails, lubricant is your next best option.
Here’s how you do it:
- Wash your hands well and dry.
- Lather a generous amount of lubricant (butter, olive oil, petroleum jelly, lip balm) over the ring and the stuck finger. Our preferred choice is Vaseline.
- Very gently twist and then pull. Don’t rush the process. Move very slowly.
- Wash the ring off with lukewarm water and soap to remove all the oils and chemicals.
Many common household products can act as lubricants. Make sure that they do not contain dangerous chemicals and that they are safe for skin contact before using them.
Similarly, creams and gels containing anti-inflammatory ingredients are also an option but should be used with caution if you may be susceptible to reactions from such products or if you have an underlying medical condition that could cause some contra-indications.
3. Windex Ring Removal Method
Windex – yes, the window cleaning spray – is famously successful at removing rings. It shares the similar problems mentioned above that it can hurt the ring, but if needed, windex is a great idea.
Spray the ring and tight area of the finger a few times with the Windex and then slowly turn and pull.
Remember to clean your hands very well after the ring comes off and to clean the ring with lukewarm water and soap.
4. Dental Floss Method
This method first appeared a few years ago and is surprisingly effective at removing seemingly permanently attached rings. It involves the use of dental floss or ribbon, a little common sense, and a few minutes of time.
The process itself is very simple.
- Lather the finger with a little bit of soap. Don’t use too much soap. If you do, the ring will be too slippery.
- Use a length of dental floss and begin wrapping it around the finger right next to where the inflammation begins. After a few rotations, begin to slide the ring over it and then wrap more of the dental floss. Once the dental floss comes up from the other side of the ring, lift it up and unwrap it as you propel the ring gently further.
- Keep wrapping the dental floss as the ring slides over it and off the finger.
The wrapping needs to be moderately tight, as it uses a compression action to physically reduce the circumference of the finger.
Important Note: Take care not to wind the floss so tight. You don’t want to risk cutting the finger or stopping circulation for an extended period of time.
Once you have reached a little way towards the next knuckle, tie the floss off so the winding can’t loosen. Take the short end of the floss that you threaded under the ring initially and unwind the floss under the ring itself. As you do so, the ring will move slightly further over the knuckle with each wind until it can be slid over the remaining dental floss.
As you can see, it takes just a minute or two to remove the ring.
5. Cutting the Engagement Ring off
If all the above fails to work, and the swelling is dangerous, we recommend going to a doctor or to the emergency room.
Medical professionals usually have a bolt cutter handy, and they can remove the ring with ease.
If the situation isn’t dangerous and you have the presence of mind, try asking the medical expert to cut the ring at the bottom rather than at the side. It will be much easier (and cheaper) to fix the ring later if it is cut at the bottom.
Additionally, it is important to remember that when the ring is cut, the prongs will all loosen. Make sure that you catch all the small diamonds and gemstones that pop off, and also make sure that you put the ring straight into a ziplock bag so that the diamonds don’t get lost on the journey to the jeweler.
7 Reasons Why a Ring Will Get Stuck on a Finger
Here are the most common reasons that a ring will get stuck on your finger. If you notice that one of these applies to you, speak to a jeweler before your ring gets stuck.
- Pregnancy. We are putting this reason up top because it is the most common reason. Fingers swell during pregnancy. If your ring is starting to feel extremely tight, speak to a jeweler before your ring gets stuck.
- Sized Incorrectly. Many times, the wrong size is given to the jeweler, and the ring will be sized too tight. All it takes is an overly warm day (or summer), and the ring will be impossible to remove.
- Finger Injury and Infection. If the finger is hurt or infected, it will begin to swell. If you don’t remember to remove your ring in time, it will be stuck on the finger.
- Arthritis. Inflammation of the joints can cause a ring to get stuck on the finger.
- Certain Medications. Certain medications will cause inflammation of the joints.
- Weight Gain. Weight gain is also a very common reason that rings will get stuck on the finger.
- Ring Injury. If the ring gets hit or banged, it can tighten in one area and loosen in another. This is a common reason that a ring will get stuck on a finger.
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