Jewelry is a wardrobe essential. It looks best if you look after it. The more you wear it, the more you’ll need to clean it. That’s why M.B Collections has created a guide with tips and tricks on how to best care for and clean your jewelry, so that it stays nice and clean.

To preserve both the cost and the sentimentality of your pieces, it’s important to keep your earrings, necklaces, bangles, rings, and payal in good condition. But there are a lot of ways your jewelry can get damaged with everyday wear. Between tarnishing, scratches, loose prongs, dullness, and damage, these delicate wardrobe pieces can have a short lifespan.

Whether you’re wanting to protect your wedding ring or looking to restore the shine to a vintage necklace, here are the ways to care for your jewelry.

Care tips for Gold Plated Jewelry

Gold plating is a process where a thin layer of gold is placed on to coat the surface of another metal. Nowadays, having gold plated jewelry is not only for those who can’t afford a full gold jewelry. They are very popular with fashionistas out there because of its practicality and because it’s available in various designs and styles that goes perfectly well with any piece of clothing. To decrease the chances of wearing out, here are easy ways of keeping the lustre of your gold plated jewelry. As it is a thin layer of gold, extra care should be taken to maximise its lifespan.

• Do not spray on perfume or other sprays while wearing your gold plated jewelry. Wear your jewelry after you have sprayed on your favourite perfume so that chemicals on the spray or perfume do not interact with your jewelry’s metal.
• Wait until your lotion or cream is dry or has been absorbed by your skin before you wear your gold plated ring, bracelet or necklace.
• Substances like oil, nail polish, nail polish remover, chlorine, perfume and the like may react with metal/plated jewelry and will cause it to tarnish easily. This also goes with sweat, so make sure you don’t forget to remove your gold plated jewelry when you exercise or anything that would require heavy physical work, and also when swimming.
• Every after use, clean your plated jewelry with a cotton ball or a very soft cloth to remove any dust and dirt it has acquired. Gently rubbing the surface of your gold plated jewelry using a soft jewelry cloth also helps restore shine.
• If your jewelry needs more cleaning you may clean it with warm, soapy water. Soak it for a few minutes and you may clean it with a soft brush. Stay away from jewelry cleaners and antibacterial soaps which may have certain components that will just make your gold plated jewelry tarnish more quickly.
• To avoid scratches, wrap your jewelry in a soft cloth after cleaning or keep it in a jewelry box separate from other types of jewelry you have.

Care tips for Oxidized Jewelry

Oxidized silver is a process that many jewelers use to give sterling silver a black patina. It gives the jewelry an antique or tarnished look. The process consists of taking clean sterling silver and using a chemical (liver of sulphur) to treat it to speed up the tarnishing effect. Oxidized jewellery can look all jazzed up when you carry them effortlessly. They are just contemporary and timeless. They are versatile, and unique and can be paired with anything you like either western or ethnic. These oxidised ornaments not just elevate your style but also stay with you for years to come if you keep them appropriately.

• Make sure to keep your oxidised jewellery away from moisture. It is suggested to store each piece individually in a zip lock plastic pouch to make sure there is no contact with air.
• If the jewellery does get oxidised further, clean it very gently using dry toothpaste powder and soft cloth to bring back its original sheen.
• When wearing oxidised jewellery, make sure that it does not come in contact with perfume or any cosmetic products. Let your perfume dry before wearing the jewellery. 
• Before storing them, wipe off all the sweat and keep them in a concealed place. As silver is a very delicate metal. Instead of any cloth, go for an anti-tarnish cloth or wipe that will not leave any scratch on it. Be careful while wiping them, as carelessness might lead to damage.
• Don’t dip oxidized pieces in jewellery cleaner products. This will remove the black patina.