\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Dish soap is also a good and very gentle way to clean coins. But, if you are in doubt about how to clean your pennies, it is a good idea to leave them alone or consult a rare coin specialist before you begin the cleaning process. How do you clean old coins without damaging them? I need advice on how to clean a coin without applying any damage to it Finally, take the pennies out and rinse them off using distilled water. By using our site, you agree to our. In fact, it works so well that, like the other coin cleaning brews mentioned here, it can completely strip away the original patina and obliterate the value of the coin. Vinegar solutions are effective for removing dark spots on coins, but they also tend to make coins look a little dull. So there is no need for you to buy harsh bleaching agents, because you want to clean corroded pennies, these simple ones can help you achieve your goals if you use them properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Dirty Coins at Home, 10+ Ways to Clean Your Clipper Blades like a Pro Barber, https://www.howtocleanthings.com/how-to-clean-pennies/, https://sciencebob.com/clean-pennies-with-vinegar/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMp2OYpCq8, https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-copper-and-brass-with-ketchup-223741, Wie man Kupfermnzen sekundenschnell reinigt, Pulire le Monete di Rame in Pochi Secondi, . Again, if you have hard or corrosive water, go with distilled water. Soak them in vinegar or ketchup: If youve ever used ketchup on your penny, then you know that it can clean it up pretty quicklyand with very little effort on your part at all! Next, soak the coins in the solution for 5 minutes, making sure theyre spread out so theyre all submerged. To clean a copper penny, squeeze out a small amount of tomato ketchup onto the face and back of the coin. This makes it easier for copper atoms to join oxygen from the air and chlorine from the salt and form a blue green compound called malachite. Method 1 Removing Dark Spots with Vinegar Download Article 1 Pour 14 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar into a small bowl. An alternative is to use vinyl erasers, but they do not contain abrasive, which is typically found in pencil erasers. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Baking Soda And Vinegar Great For Science Fair Volcanoes But Not For Enhancing Your Coins Value. So our advice is that if you have found some valuable pennies (and have hopes of selling them for big money), it is actually safer to not clean them at all. Numismatists and some coin collector organizations may offer these services. How to clean copper pennies - YouTube Then dip your coins in the solution and let them soak for an hour or twothe longer they soak, the more oxidation will come off. Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? Dab some yellow mustard onto a cotton ball or soft cloth and rub firmly over the entire surface of the coin until it starts turning darker than usualthis means that its working! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Copper, silver, nickel, and gold coins should strictly never be cleaned. After brushing each penny, rinse with clean water and dry, it should be looking good as new by now. Apmex is a well-known auction site for coins. For this reason, only clean coins that have little value, such as standard pennies. Keep in mind that this is more of an abrasive than even the sand method and can do serious damage without the proper care. Its a very interesting question and a great DIY project. The Mabnol : How to Clean Coins Mouthwash not only helps with dental health but can help you clean up dirty coins. wheat pennies found can be worth a small fortune. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. Use Water Sometimes the simplest methods are best. But if you do really want to get stuck in and have a go at cleaning some coins, we recommend that you experiment on some modern loose change instead. It can even be used as a metal polishing solution. ", "It is so amazing, the power of baking soda and vinegar.". Dry the coins with a microfiber cloth to give them that extra shine! Since we are also concerned about safety, it is important for you to know that the acidic substances that these rust removers contain could be harmful to your skin, so you should protect yourself with gloves and a mask when using them. Step 5: Rub Away the Tarnish & Grime. In fact, I use dish soap to clean my wedding ring, necklaces, and other jewelry. How to Clean Old Coins Without Devaluing Them: 15 Methods - Tool Guider https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUbe88W78I0&feature=youtu.be&t=13, https://sciencebob.com/clean-pennies-with-vinegar/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMp2OYpCq8&feature=youtu.be&t=27, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHZSYR463uw&feature=youtu.be&t=41, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS9-A1TO67c&feature=youtu.be&t=45, https://www.pennycollector.com/cleaning.html, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/shine-bright-like-a-penny/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7cfVkadI_A&feature=youtu.be&t=174, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7cfVkadI_A&feature=youtu.be&t=928, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPuRLcm7WY&feature=youtu.be&t=516, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPuRLcm7WY&feature=youtu.be&t=542. How To Clean Pennies 1 Easy Trick - Crazy Science Experiment Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Soak your pennies for five minutes in vinegar to dissolve any copper oxide left on them from handling before you start scrubbing them with toothpaste or soap. When you clean via any method, you are clearing off small parts of the penny surface along with the corrosion, so a slight change in the appearance of the pennies is actually inevitable. For older, condition-sensitive coins, a gentle bath of water and mild hand soap will suffice. Clean pennies with Vinegar and Salt NurdRage 664K views 10 years ago How to CLEAN coins HardCoreCopper 43K views 1 year ago Coin Collecting : How Do I Clean Dirty Coins?. By using our site, you agree to our. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. Ketchup is also effective at cleaning copper jewelry, so keep this tip in mind next time you need an emergency polish job for your favorite necklace or bracelet! If you do use an abrasive like vinegar or salt, make sure that you dont rub the abrasive in as it could scratch up the surface of the coin. Vinegar is most effective for cleaning copper. LARISA NIEDLE You'll Need: Salt White vinegar (or fresh lemon juice) Shallow plastic container Cloth or paper towel Baking soda (optional) Toothbrush (optional) Dishwashing liquid (optional) 02 of 07 Step 1: LARISA NIEDLE In a jar, combine 1 cup vinegar (or lemon juice) and 1 tablespoon salt. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 2 Pour a few ounces of vinegar into a shallow dish. Pennies are normally made of copper, which is a shiny, bright metal, and more recently Zinc. So, thinking about cleaning them is not wrong, and they can be cleaned in several ways. % of people told us that this article helped them. Repeat the treatment with more oil as needed. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Admittedly, this one is hard to see working well, so I always suggest testing brand new coin cleaning methods on a coin you care absolutely nothing about. Pennies are made from highly reactive metals like copper or copper alloys, so it is only normal for them to get corroded with time. Anyone can use this simple technique. There are various other methods to clean your pennies. Copper coins often turn a muddled brown color, and these marks can be cleaned off with salt and a mild acid like white vinegar. Many professional coin collectors and coin valuers recommend leaving the coins as they are. The coins need to be submerged in the vinegar, so make sure the vinegar doesn't have too much space to spread out. Get an appraisal before you clean themif you plan to sell them. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You may also have luck selling them online. Step 3: Add Tarnished Silver Coins. You want something a bit more gentle for silver coins but you will need a heavier abrasive for your copper pennies. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 60,522 times. When they start to look cleaner, remove them from the bowl. This detector features multiple search frequencies and has 2 different coin modes: one for foreign coins and one for U.S. coins. AspenClean develops and manufactures its own line of 100% Natural, EcoCert certified, and EWG verified cleaning products. This article may contain affiliate links, How to Paint Concrete [From Preparation to Sealing], 14 Ways to Open a Stuck Jar A Helpful Guide, A Guide to Wood Finishes That Are Food Safe, How to Significantly Improve Your Charcoal Grill, How to Remove Scratches From Stainless Steel, Pickled Cherry Tomatoes are Definitely a Thing You Need to Know About. When you put your pennies in a vinegar and salt mix, the vinegar and salt react together and remove the copper oxide. Monitor coins carefully and rinse them with clean water as soon as possible. The key is to ensure that you dont use anything super abrasive, especially on older coins. How To Clean A Copper or Zinc Penny - Coin Collecting! Rinse your pennies well with water; otherwise, if any of these cleaning agents remain on the coin, the coin will turn blue-green. Coins are part of most of our lives in one way or another. You can visit a local coin dealer if you have one nearby. Let the coins sit in the mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes so that the soap can break down the grime. Remember to not use tap water because the chemicals are bad for the coins. The wheat penny was produced until 1958, with a few changes along the way. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. This works well because the dish soap will loosen dirt and grim, and gently lift it from the surface of the metal object. Ketchup contains acid that can help remove copper stains. Use a stronger acid like ketchup or cola to strip away the green patina that forms when copper is exposed to salt and water. He has a hefty collection of wheat pennies that hes found with various techniques. 5 How do you remove green corrosion from copper coins? If you dont have ketchup or another acid, try using a metal polish from a general store. Allow the coins to air-dry on a microfiber or cotton towel. How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without Damage - Discover Detecting The acid from the ketchup can help to deal with oxidation as it forms on your coins. Wheat pennies were made of different metals during different years depending on the need for metals. Before you do anything, do your research to know the value of the coin. Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. How do you clean badly tarnished copper coins? Gold Nuggets Metal Detectors Drop the pennies into the mixture for about 5 minutes. There are many metal detectors that are specifically for coin shooting, while others are all-purpose metal detectors. Wipe down the surface of your penny with another clean cloth or paper towel until all dirt has been removed from its surface. One not so common cleaning method I found is using ketchup. It removes various materials including organic material. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Rinse off excess mustard under running water until all traces are removed from both sides before allowing them dry completely upside down so they wont lose any color fading away while drying out naturally overnight.. How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and Effectively - Discover Detecting Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. Keep reading below for the best methods for safely cleaning your wheat pennies at home. You can clean a dug copper coin by removing layers of dirt, gently, with a toothpick, piece of wood, or your fingernail until getting down to the patina. CoinsForSale.com charges a 5 percent selling fee and no listing fee. If you plan on cleaning off a lot of coins at once, use a bigger bowl and add more vinegar as needed. If the quarter is clean, rinse it off with distilled water. Place the coins in a plastic container and cover with mouthwash. If it's a very thin coin, don't clean it as the vinegar can scorch through it. Soak the coins for 12 hours. If you had a rare coin you had cleaned too harshly, and wanted to have it valued, it would reduce the coins value. Soak coins in warm water mixed with liquid dish detergent to clean off light dirt and grime. You may even want to take the same steps you learned from here to help clean other dirty pennies that you come across in the future. In addition to the vinegar and lemon juice, ketchup can also be used to clean copper pennies. While you're grasping the coin firmly by its edges, use a clean toothbrush to lightly scrub the flat surfaces of the coin. First, do not every use any type of jewelry cleaner or metal polish on coins. Alicia Sokolowski is a Green Cleaning Specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean, a green cleaning company in Vancouver, British Columbia. [3] 4 One of the most important aspects of cleaning old coins is to know the value first. Leave the pennies for around five minutes in the glass of vinegar or lemon juice. Using a soft cloth, apply your chosen cleaner to the coin and allow it to soak in for five minutes. This may be true in certain aspects, such as uncirculated monies. Repeat, as necessary. WATER. Drop your coins into the mixture and let them sit for about 5 minutes. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. The effect is achieved only where the mixture has been in contact with the coin, so ensure you cover the entire coin! 3 What is the fastest way to clean copper coins? Simply hold your copper penny by its edges between your thumb and forefinger, then dip its entire surface into a small bowl of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Because the effect is achieved only where the mixture has been in contact with the coin, this allows one to get creative with the contrasting features of the coin itself with your choice of different colored copper. To prevent grime buildup, it is imperative that collectible coins be stored in a safe, secure, airtight place. 10 Simple But Effective Ways to Clean Silver Coins - Tips Bulletin That means a lot more options for getting them clean enough to use again. Ensure you rinse all the vinegar off the coin once it is cleaned. If you do have hard water or highly acidic water, try using distilled water. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. But for coins that have collectible value, they are oftentimes worth more than their face value. Cleaning them can go wrong very quicklyand who wants to devalue their newly found treasure? They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. It has 3 search coil options, all are waterproof. Pull the coins out of the liquid and gently wipe them with a paper towel to break apart the tarnish and dark spots. They can eliminate or reduce the effects of outside contaminates that have caused issues with your coins. The more contact the coins have with one another the more damage they take on. Use sparing amounts of oil to avoid damaging coins. For a stronger treatment, let the coins soak in oil for about a day, then scrub them with a soft toothbrush. Metal Detector Reviews (for anyone), Garrett AT Pro Review Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. In terms of valuable wheat pennies, while it can range vastly depending on the pennys condition, here are some best case scenarios in terms of value for a select few: If you happen to have one of these in your wheat penny collection, consider yourself incredibly lucky! You should also rub the coin gently to remove debris, and rinse it under the tap to wash off the oil. Well, the general rule is if you intend on selling your wheat pennies, you should not clean them. Make sure that any cleaner you use is rated to clean pennies prior to 1982. Collectors actively look for the tiniest flaws in pennies and they have all the necessary tools to find those flaws. If you decide to clean your wheat pennies, make sure you start with the least invasive cleaning method first. With your paper towel, clean the pennies carefully and watch how they start getting clean and shiny. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Rinse the coin very well under warm water. You can also clean pennies with a combination of salt and lemon juice or salt and orange juice. In fact, there are a lot of people who may suggest that using vinegar will hurt the integrity of your penny by making it tarnish. How to Clean Silver Coins Without Damaging Them in 7 Simple Steps 3 Ways to Clean Ancient Coins - wikiHow 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 teaspoon salt A clear, shallow bowl (not metal) 2 clean steel nails A clean steel screw or bolt Paper towels Put the salt and vinegar in the bowl. Very old or dirty coins require the extra effort. If necessary, a little bit of gentle soap can be used, with Ivory soap being the preferred brand. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. If you want to go with something that is both inexpensive and likely already in your home, olive oil is the right choice. Grab some past with your thumb and forefinger, rubbing it gently onto both sides of the penny. Rinse the coins with fresh water after 24 hours and let them air dry. This article has been viewed 60,522 times. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. But before you start your timer, make sure none of the pennies are touching themselves. When you have them totally clean, let them air dry and enjoy the bright sheen that your pennies have. That is because ketchup has vinegar in it, which is naturally acidic. Step 4: Add More Baking Soda & Hot Water. All items are affected by the passage of time, and coins are no different. You just have to put a thin but uniform layer of sauce on the penny and then rinse it off with water after some time. Rinse and dry: After scrubbing, rinse in warm water and dry the copper with a lint-free dishtowel. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you dont have a brush available, leave the coins submerged in the ketchup for at least 5 minutes. Can hydrogen peroxide be used to clean coins? It is okay to stop at the fourth step, but if some of the pennies dont get clean after you use the paper towel to clean them, you can put them back into the solution and soak for an extra five minutes. However, with old coins you have found while metal detecting, you may want to refrain from cleaning. Caution: blood plasma counts as a fluid. Last Updated: October 27, 2022 Can I use isopropyl alcohol to clean the coins? These cookies do not store any personal information. How to Clean Coins | Should I Clean My Coins? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You can also opt for durable plastic holders, which can be square or round. Get a corrosive resistant container, such as a glass, and soak your wheat pennies in the vinegar for at least 30 minutes. This method you will help you to clean old coin properly without any damage to. In 1909, a new design featuring President Abraham Lincon was introduced. Rubbing the surface of a coin can damage it, even if you cannot see it. Here are a few different methods that you can use to get those pennies clean. Some are damaged by contact with other coins, general circulation, or being buried in the ground for many years.