\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Its essential to use a mild cleaner when cleaning old coins. Unfortunately, many of the popular methods seen online are actually detrimental to coins and could leave yours with only a fraction of their original collector value! Step 6 (optional): If your coins are still dirty, you can fill the plastic container with a 1-inch layer of warm water. To clean pennies with baking soda first lightly dip a toothbrush in vinegar. Copper Penny Rust Removal With Vinegar & Baking Soda Experiment Place a lid on the container and soak the coins for one week. An old toothbrush works great. A clean steel screw or bolt. How can I clean pennies with baking soda? If you do not have any vinegar or lemon juice in the home, ketchup or Tabasco hot sauce is a great alternative, and you undoubtedly have this condiment in your refrigerator. Lightly rub the ketchup into the coin with a soft toothbrush, then rinse off the ketchup. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Chalk it up to the excitement of having my own money for the first time, but when I was a kid, I loved cleaning dirty pennies collected in my piggy bank before cashing them in at the real bank. More and more people are tossing out the harsh chemicals from their daily cleaning routine and instead turning to natural products, such as baking soda and vinegar, to remove grime, disinfect surfaces and leave spaces shiny and clean, according to Reader's Digest. Remove from the bin, place on the soft cloth and allow to dry naturally. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 69,924 times. A clear, shallow bowl (not metal) 2 clean steel nails. Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). If, like 6-year-old me, you or your kids are curious about how to clean coins, follow the simple steps below to get dull coins sparkling using a slightly acidic solution that will eat away at the brown oxidation on the coins. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, let's get to the best coin cleaning method that you can do at home. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Include phases. Place the pennies into a bowl, making sure that they do not overlap, and pour olive oil over the tops until they are covered. Ketchup. As a base, baking soda dissolves organic compounds like dirt, grease and other sticky ickies. Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, Cleaning Copper Pennies with White Vinegar and Salt, Bring Shine Back to Copper Coins with Coca-Cola, How to Clean Copper Pennies with Baking Soda, Cleaning Copper Pennies with a Metal Cleaner, Bring Shine Back to Copper Coins with Olive Oil, Privacy Policy GDPR Medical Disclaimer DMCA. Ordinary vinegar can be used to rid old coins of the gunk theyve gathered over time. Coin collecting is a fun hobby for children and people of all ages. Cleaning with baking soda can be an effective way to cut out harsh chemicals from your home. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. 10. By using our site, you agree to our. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Useful Tips To Make Your Everyday Life Just A Bit Better. Thank you. How to Unclog a Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar - The Spruce Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You Could Find This Rare Penny In Your Pocket Change Heres What To Look For, Deny future generations the chance to enjoy your coin in its wholly. Kill mildew in laundry using baking soda and vinegar. He has over 50 years of numismatic and writing experience, including a monthly magazine column for the American Numismatic Association. Dry your pennies with a soft cloth. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Once the washer is filled, before the wash cycle starts, drop in a cup of vinegar. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). For many pennies, one tablespoon (15 g) of salt in 1/2 cup (4 oz) of vinegar will get the job done. % of people told us that this article helped them. This video is for demonstration purposes only on coins that are only worth face value. Regularly add boiling water with a grease-fighting dish soap down the drain to prevent the buildup of greasy clogs. Exactly how do you clean old coins with vinegar and baking soda? I used to experiment with rubbing toothpaste on some of my coins years ago, but I ended up ruining every coin I cleaned with it. Once youve rinsed the pennies, set them aside on a layer of paper towels to dry. Here's what's happening: This technique is an easy way to clean silver coins and zinc pennies without causing damage, too. Allow them to sit for five minutes and then use a soft-bristle toothbrush to scrub the coins lightly. Coca-Cola, or any generic type of cola soda, contains acids that dissolve away grime from coins and removes copper dioxide. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You can even use tamarind juice instead of vinegar or lemon juice. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Soak them in a bucket of warm water and vinegar for about 15 minutes. What To Look For In Damaged Coins Example: Is This A Nickel Error Coin Or Post-Mint Damage? Cleaning - PENNY COLLECTOR NY 10036. Sprinkle the cleaner over the pennies and let them sit for a few minutes. This article has been viewed 1,414,495 times. 3 Ways to Clean Rusty Coins - wikiHow Most Valuable Quarters: A List Of Silver Quarters & Other Rare Quarters You Should Hold Onto! Learn more As copper pennies continually change hands, they become prone to tarnishing and collecting dirt. Dip one penny halfway into the liquid. 6. Start by adding a quarter cup of white vinegar into a bowl. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Method #1: Cleaning With Soap and Water Method #2: Cleaning With Lemon Juice/Vinegar and Salt Method #3: Cleaning With a Pencil Eraser Method #4: Cleaning With Tomato Ketchup Method #5: Cleaning With Baking Soda or Bon Ami Cleanser Method #6: Cleaning With Goo Gone Frequently Asked Questions Conclusion How to Clean Steel Pennies wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Who doesnt love a little ketchup with their French fries? Today, I collect and study U.S. coins made during the 20th century. So, what ways shouldnt you clean your coins? A dirty penny is usually the result of years of accumulated dirt. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you're a serious coin collector, you can hire professional services to clean coins in a way that won't diminish the coins' value. "Baking soda is the opposite of vinegar. Clean pennies only without any other coin or the other coins will become discolored. Best Baking Soda and Vinegar Cleaning Solutions - Reader's Digest Copper oxide (the gunk on your pennies) dissolves in weak acid, and that's just what all three of these liquids are. These two methods are the ONLY safe ways to clean your coins at home yourself without damaging your coins and lowering their value! Any type of eraser works to remove the build of dirt. How can I clean them? % of people told us that this article helped them. Let the pennies sit for two more hours and then rinse them under warm water to wash away the dirt and soda residue. Place the coin in the second container filled with the remaining distilled water. If you don't have vinegar, use lemon or even orange juice. While most posts usually tell you HOW to clean coins, Id like to try something different: tell you how NOT to go about cleaning your coins. Make your copper shine with simple home ingredients and just a little time. This type of cleaner is also the best way to polish brass and clean other metal surfaces. Vinegar alone is not strong enough to remove the worst buildup from old pennies. The same applies to any piece of Fe.) If youre attempting to clean a large amount of pennies, you may need to empty the dish and mix up some fresh solution periodically. First, lay your dirty penny on top of a piece of paper or clean cloth. Allow them to sit in the liquid for about two hours and then flip them over. Combine it with apple cider and scrub it clean. Pick up a little ketchup on an old toothbrush by dipping it in the ketchup. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. If the shine is not restored after you use Goo Gone, use the soap and water, or the pencil eraser method as described above. Check the coins date and compare them to online resources or get advice from coin collectors before cleaning coins. If your dish cloths/towels are white, add bleach into the load when you wash them. Keep in mind, if you have a rare or antique penny, cleaning it may destroy its value, so look the penny up online if you suspect its worth something! Dry the penny with a soft clean cloth. So why are these household items such effective cleaning agents? Dip your coins in white distilled vinegar and let them soak for about 30 seconds. You can also use lemon juice instead of vinegar. Scrub pocket change with baking soda and vinegar. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You cant watch daytime TV without seeing at least one or two ads touting the latest and greatest silver or copper polish. Spray the paste with vinegar before scrubbing the grime away. Vinegar and salt Vinegar and salt are the best methods of cleaning your pennies. Do You Have A Rare 1989 Penny Worth $3,000? This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Clean-Pennies-with-Vinegar-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Pennies-with-Vinegar-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e5\/Clean-Pennies-with-Vinegar-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/aid8789167-v4-728px-Clean-Pennies-with-Vinegar-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"