Start adding your pennies into the solution, but dont throw everything inside at once. How to Clean Old Coins | Coupon Codes One of the simplest ways to clean coins is by using distilled water and a soft towel. Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. Baking soda and vinegar have proven to be one of the most effective ways to clean tarnished coins. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Mix in extra salt if you wish, but keep a close eye on the coins to avoid damaging them. Ammonia is another option that can be used to clean copper pennies. Be sure to check with a professional before cleaning a corroded coin that may have significant value. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. But before you start your timer, make sure none of the pennies are touching themselves. 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.. Clean at your . For this reason, only clean coins that have little value, such as standard pennies. Dry them off with paper towels. This method you will help you to clean old coin properly without any damage to. If you use the right materials and carry out the process in a gentle manner, you can get the best of both worlds a set of cleaned shiny pennies that are also not damaged. In that event, you would want to avoid anything highly abrasive that could damage the surface of the coin. Place your pennies in the vinegar or the lemon juice. You can also use just a touch of olive oil for polishing older coins that have become tarnished. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. How to clean old coins without any damage - YouTube Abrasive cleaners, like using a brush along with an acid or alcohol-based cleaning solution, can leave minuscule hair line discrepancies on the metal that can only be seen under magnification and in the right lighting. These were 95 percent copper and 5 percent zing. You can use lemon juice to clean copper pennies, but youll want to work in a well-ventilated area when you do. It is very gentle and can help reveal details on the coin surface you may not be able to see. 1 How do you clean old copper coins without damaging them? Its important to note that cleaning tarnish off valuable or rare coins can greatly affect their value. As you will come to find out, there are different methods for cleaning different types of coins. This article has been viewed 60,522 times. Over time, coins of all sorts can and will collect grime and gunk. They can eliminate or reduce the effects of outside contaminates that have caused issues with your coins. Pat the coin dry. Be patient and try not to get frustrated. How to clean green corroded copper coins Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. In many cases, cleaning a coin can lower the value of the coin as a collectors item. Well, the general rule is if you intend on selling your wheat pennies, you should not clean them. Thats not necessarily to say the material so much as the purpose of the coin. Anyone can use this simple technique. From there, use your brush to gently get the grime off of the coins before putting them back into the water again. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Cheap Metal Detectors Subscribe To Me: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TheBoxUnboxed https://twitter.com/TheBoxUnboxed Use Promo Code TBU for 10% off GFUEL http://www.gammalabs.net Use Promo Code TBU For 5% off Custom Pc's at http://lostlegionpcs.webs.com/ Use Promo Code tbu for NoScope Gaming Glasses or use the link below https://www.noscopeglasses.com/demon-glasses?tracking=tbu Listerine and other antiseptic mouthwashes can clean dirt, oil, and debris from old coins. 10 Simple But Effective Ways to Clean Silver Coins - Tips Bulletin Method 1 Using Simple Washing Download Article 1 Sort your coins. When they are sufficiently clean, lay them out on a soft cloth, dabbing them dry with gentle pressure. Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. It might even be a good idea to stay away from even hiring a professional service to clean them for you. Signs of cleaning can be evident in many ways and often affect the value of the coin. Do not clean these valuable pennies on your own, and if you do, only use distilled water. Drop the pennies into the mixture for about 5 minutes. Finally, drop the coins in, seal the lid, and shake it. This may be true in certain aspects, such as uncirculated monies. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. You will end up with irreversible damage to the coins. Make a bath using a cup of isopropyl alcohol combined with two tablespoons of salt. If you do not sell your coin, you do not pay. Wearing gloves will help protect your skin from the cleaning solution. Rinse off any excess liquid with water and set aside to dry. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. Add distilled water and a small amount of dish soap to your shallow bowl. It may take a few treatments, so work gradually and wash the coins off each time to avoid damaging them. You should also rub the coin gently to remove debris, and rinse it under the tap to wash off the oil. Step 4 Now take out the pennies from that mixture, and wash them in water. The aluminum foil is key to the reaction which removes the tarnish. Cool the copper: Leave the copper item in the solution until it is cool to the touch. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. Repeat, as necessary. Start with a mixture of warm, soapy water when cleaning silver coins. Tartaric acid is a weak organic acid, which means its not as corrosive to your penny as other chemicals. With this simple technique, anyone can get their penny as clean as it once was. These coins range in value from a few cents to a small fortune, if you, Read More How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without DamageContinue, ABOUT|AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE|PRIVACY POLICY|TERMS OF USE. Wheat pennys face value is 1 cent, but every single one of them is worth more than face value, regardless of condition. 290K views 3 years ago In this video you will find a simple but very effective method of cleaning old coins. Minelab CTX 3030 Review, on How to Clean a Copper Penny:10 Tips and Advices. Gold Nuggets Metal Detectors Test the ketchup on a small area of your penny first before applying it in more generous amounts. This technique is an easy way to clean silver coins and zinc pennies without causing damage, too. Any attempt at cleaning a coin can reduce its value. When you have them totally clean, let them air dry and enjoy the bright sheen that your pennies have. If your penny is really important to you. Anyone can use this simple technique. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Pennies have been around since the late 1700s in the United States. Again, use small circular motions, scrubbing the entirety of the coin for a minute or so. Coins Metal Detectors Remember, you dont want to use anything that has abrasive qualities to them because they can scratch the coins. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. Dont leave them in a bowl of water, since the vinegar solution and copper oxide will end up in the bowl and on other coins. Press ESC to cancel. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. But if you simply want to clean the coins for non-commercial reasons (for example, you just want a bunch of cleaned pennies youve found to become part of your coin collection), the vinegar/lemon juice method will be good enough. Looking to achieve that bright, orange-copper color? Heat safe container. The soap should help keep the coin safe while you gently scrub it. Mix it together and add the coins into the bowl. Cleaning in small batches is a better option. If you do have hard water or highly acidic water, try using distilled water. Gentle dish soap, like Dawn, is a good option for getting those wheat pennies shining again. Its best to wear rubber gloves when handling the ketchup and penny because they can both leave your hands stained red if you arent careful! Ketchup contains acid that can help remove copper stains. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Ammonia works well for removing rust from copper pennies, but it can also damage the surface of the penny if not used properly. (So before you start using baking soda, vinegar, toothpaste, or ketchup to clean your coins at. In your small container, measure in a cup of fresh lemon juice (or white vinegar) and add one tablespoon of salt to it. % of people told us that this article helped them. Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. Once theyve soaked enough, take them out and rinse them with clear water until all traces of acid are gone from their surfaces; finally dry them off with a paper towel before putting them back into circulation (or storing them). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. On average, a quarter-cup should be adequate. For a safer way to remove stubborn debris and make a coin shine, rub it gently with a little bit of vegetable oil. Method 1 Removing Dark Spots with Vinegar Download Article 1 Pour 14 cup (59 mL) of white vinegar into a small bowl. These coins range in value from a few cents to a small fortune, if you are lucky enough! In fact, 99% of coins do not increase in value after you clean them. If you have a penny that has been cleaned with another method but still looks dull or dirty, try using the baking soda and salt method to bring back its shine. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The right materials will effectively clean your pennies and will also be safe for your hands. Let them soak for a while. For many pennies, one tablespoon (15 g) of salt in 1/2 cup (4 oz) of vinegar will get the job done. In fact, I use dish soap to clean my wedding ring, necklaces, and other jewelry. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and Effectively, How to Clean Gold Jewelry With Vinegar Without Any Damage, How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without Damage. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Again, if you have hard or corrosive water, go with distilled water. If you happen to find one of these while metal detecting, do not attempt to clean them yourself! Science Activity: Turn Old Pennies Bright and Shiny! | Exploratorium There are a variety of suggested ways when it comes to cleaning coins, and cleaning . Patience is key: The best way to clean a copper coin is by using patience and not being afraid to try new methods until one works well enough for you without scratching up your penny too much while doing so. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. White Vinegar One of the most recommended cleaning solutions for wheat pennies is white vinegar. [5] The salt and vinegar in the ketchup will remove tarnish from the penny. Avoid rubbing where possible as they can scratch and damage the coins surface. Wet the coin with water and roll in baking soda. If you have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. How to Clean Copper Coins Found in the Ground: Best Do's and Don'ts NEVER drink the solution that was used to clean the pennies. Drop your coins in a bowl and cover them completely with olive oil. From there, wipe your finger on your face for some natural oil, made up of sebum, and transfer it to the face of the coin. HCI works, but you get an orange look to the copper and still need to use your elbow grease to clean it.