You dont have to sacrifice the quality of your pennies just so you can have them looking good. Dish soap is another good cleaning method and is very gentle. It has 3 search coil options, all are waterproof. You can also opt for durable plastic holders, which can be square or round. Some other options to use in place of vinegar include orange or lemon juice. Do not leave the coin in the ketchup for more than an hour or two as it will leave a green oxidation on the coin. This way, you can take any preventative measures necessary to clean the coins and retain their value. There are various other methods to clean your pennies. The citrus juices are acidic, and mixed with salt, can remove corrosion and debris from wheat pennies. It is easy to just use any cleaning agent for this, but you need to understand that there are many cleaning materials that will potentially damage the penniesand even hurt your skin in the process. Use Water Sometimes the simplest methods are best. But before you start your timer, make sure none of the pennies are touching themselves. Clearing away the dirt now makes the coin look clearer once you add the oil to it. One not so common cleaning method I found is using ketchup. Hold it there for about 10 seconds, then pull it out. For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! Scrub low-value coins with baking soda and vinegar, lemon juice and salt, or ketchup to break apart tarnish. The best method for achieving that is with salt and vinegar. It removes various materials including organic material. In a small container, place a small amount of table-salt (1 gram is plenty). If they look clean enough, use a soft cloth to dry them. Mix in extra salt if you wish, but keep a close eye on the coins to avoid damaging them. HCI works, but you get an orange look to the copper and still need to use your elbow grease to clean it. Wait about five minutes and check your pennies. After brushing each penny, rinse with clean water and dry, it should be looking good as new by now. Listerine and other antiseptic mouthwashes can clean dirt, oil, and debris from old coins. If it doesnt work for you, or somehow has hurt or damaged the penny in your eyes, stop using this method and find one you feel is a bit better. Its a very interesting question and a great DIY project. 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. 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. You can clean as many pennies you want with a single pencil eraser. Microwaving 2 cups of water for 2-3 minutes should suffice and avoid boiling water. This happens because the vinegar and salt dissolves the copper oxide layer of the penny. Keep in mind that adding more salt to the solution makes it stronger. This method and those that follow are going to be for everyday coins. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. If necessary, a little bit of gentle soap can be used, with Ivory soap being the preferred brand. Apmex is a well-known auction site for coins. Fisher F22 Review One of the main reasons for pennies becoming dirty is their continual circulation among people. If you dont have a brush available, leave the coins submerged in the ketchup for at least 5 minutes. To clean softer or more valuable coins, your best bet is to lightly rinse them in warm water, then pat them dry with a microfiber cloth. In this video, I'm showing you the 2 safest methods to clean coins without devaluing them. Vinegar will remove any oxides formed on the coin surface. When a coin has evidence of cleaning, it is valued as Genuine-Cleaned. This means that despite the condition of the coin, it will be valued less than Fine range coins that have not been cleaned. Hot sauce and brown colas are some other household substances that work well on copper coins. If the water is not enough, continue down the list and use dish soap. Repeat this process as many times as necessary before allowing the coins to air dry. Use distilled water because chemicals in tap water may cause discoloration. Heritage Auctions is an online consignment program with a 10 percent fee. You can use your finger or an exceptionally fine brush to remove any stuck-on dirt. If possible, stick to water or dish soap for cleaning wheat pennies. Those are meant to clean items like antique silver vases and your wedding ring. Be extremely gentle! There are many methods you can use at home to clean your wheat pennies, and other coins you have found, safely and carefully. Gently scrub them with either a soft toothbrush or your fingers. You like wouldnt need the professional cleaning. Do not clean these valuable pennies on your own, and if you do, only use distilled water. 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. Many people think that a shiny coin will be worth more than a tarnished, old looking coin. This detector uses 5 frequencies simultaneously or it can use them individually. With -cup of ketchup, just dip your old toothbrush in and scrub the surface of the coin. Fill the bowl with enough lemon juice to cover the quarter. Soak coins in warm water mixed with liquid dish detergent to clean off light dirt and grime. If you do have hard water or highly acidic water, try using distilled water. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. After youve cleaned off any grime or other contaminants from your coins surface, its time for step two: cleaning out any crevices that could have collected dust or dirt over time. If you dont see any results after trying a method for a few minutes, move on to something else. Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Dirty Coins at Home, 10+ Ways to Clean Your Clipper Blades like a Pro Barber. % of people told us that this article helped them. Dry the coins with a microfiber cloth to give them that extra shine! Just make sure that you gently apply the olive oil and you can help prevent tarnish over time. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 290K views 3 years ago In this video you will find a simple but very effective method of cleaning old coins. If you are planning to sell your cleaned pennies, using chemicals or scrubbing methods for cleaning could leave marks on the coins and an appraiser could easily discover this, which will greatly reduce the market value of your pennies. Step 2 Add a teaspoon of salt to the bowl full of vinegar, and stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved. Its found naturally in wine, and it works by breaking down the copper oxide coating on your pennies. 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. The vinegar poured into that bowl should be enough to cover those pennies. These cookies do not store any personal information. Pennies have been around since the late 1700s in the United States. Let them air dry or wipe them with a soft, microfiber cloth. The acetic acid in white vinegar can help remove contaminants from your coins. What are ultrasonic cleaners when it comes to cleaning copper coins? Aluminum Foil Any aluminum foil will do, what you have laying around in your kitchen will work great. If you have a collection of copper pennies, chances are that theyre not looking their best. This, Read More How to Clean Corroded Pennies Safely and EffectivelyContinue, If youve ever discovered gold jewelry in the woods or beach before, then you likely stumbled upon jewelry that was quite dirty and in need, Read More How to Clean Gold Jewelry With Vinegar Without Any DamageContinue, ABOUT|AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE|PRIVACY POLICY|TERMS OF USE. If there are stubborn stains that dont seem like theyre budging, try scrubbing them vigorously with steel wool while theyre still wet; this should do wonders when trying to remove stubborn grime from coins like pennies made out of zinc (which often have dark spots). From there, use your brush to gently get the grime off of the coins before putting them back into the water again. At this stage, the corrosion on the pennies mustve reacted with the lemon and salt solution, so it is time for you to start removing them from the container. Dry them off with paper towels. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. They include: As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Again, cleaning corrosion off wheat pennies can harm the value significantly. Some are damaged by contact with other coins, general circulation, or being buried in the ground for many years. You will want to use a soft-bristled brush, one that has been well worn in as well as a soft cloth. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. How do you clean old coins without damaging them? Step 4 Now take out the pennies from that mixture, and wash them in water. If you happen to find one of these while metal detecting, do not attempt to clean them yourself! Ketchup is composed of vinegar, salt, and tomatoes. Test the ketchup on a small area of your penny first before applying it in more generous amounts. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. 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. 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. Press ESC to cancel. As an added precaution, you should only mix one tablespoon of ammonia with one gallon of water when using this technique; over-mixed solutions will damage your coins surfaces quickly. Rinse the coins with fresh water after 24 hours and let them air dry. All items are affected by the passage of time, and coins are no different. The good news is that there is a solution available no matter what type of coin. First, gather your supplies. This method you will help you to clean old coin properly without any damage to. But we recommend the vinegar or lemon juice approach because the materials are safe for your skin, overall quite very effective, creates little to no mess, and the risk of damaging the pennies is fairly low. If I must choose a cleaning method, I will choose distilled water. Instead, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the vinegar solution and scrub the coins with it. 2. Whether its a regular penny or a wheat penny, hopefully youve found this article to showcase a helpful method on how to clean a corded penny. If you have recently gone metal detecting and found several wheat pennies, what do you do with them now? As a general rule, make the paste at a ratio of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Follow these steps to make your pennies completely clean: Step 1 Pour a small quantity of vinegar into a bowl. There are a variety of suggested ways when it comes to cleaning coins, and cleaning . If youre having trouble getting rid of the tarnish on your copper penny, rubbing alcohol might be the trick you need. The best way to clean pennies is to never ever clean them. Any attempt at cleaning a coin can reduce its value. Mix a teaspoon of salt into the liquid by stirring until it is dissolved. Please do not clean collector coins, I don not take responsibly of any damage done. I like to use distilled water to clean coins if I decide to clean them. Step 5: Rub Away the Tarnish & Grime. Clean copper coins in a vinegar and salt solution. Since all alcohol is neutral (having neither acidic or alkaline charges) it will only remove ceraint oil base soils. If you do not rinse all the vinegar off your wheat pennies, they may turn green or bluish green. Enjoy! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If needed, use a soft towel or soft-bristled brush to scrub the coin. Wheat pennies were made of different metals during different years depending on the need for metals. Ultrasonic cleaners work by microcavitation. For a stronger treatment, let the coins soak in oil for about a day, then scrub them with a soft toothbrush. Your best bet is to keep them separate so they are not rubbing against eachother. The wheat penny was produced until 1958, with a few changes along the way. Put the coin in the bowl and slowly rub the coin with your finger from both sides. 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. For others, coins can be collected throughout the years, some of which become quite valuable. Stir together until the soap is sudsy, then add your coins to the bowl. If it can clean oil off baby ducks, it should be able to clean your wheat pennies with very little damage! Numismatists and some coin collector organizations may offer these services. The coins need to be submerged in the vinegar, so make sure the vinegar doesn't have too much space to spread out. Cleaning them can be a daunting task. Lemon juice. In this video I clean three old worn large cents. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,144 times. Dont use steel wool or abrasive chemicals to clean your penny, as this could damage the metal. Simply run the water over the coin, or let it soak in the water. Next, mix baking soda and water into a thick paste and rub this paste over the penny using your fingers. Many professional coin collectors and coin valuers recommend leaving the coins as they are. Even more importantly, understand how the condition impacts the value. How do you clean badly tarnished copper coins? Nearly all metal detectors will be able to find coins in the right conditions. With over 17 years of experience, Alicia specializes in creating a healthier, green alternative to chemical-based cleaning products and services. Place the coins in a plastic container and cover with mouthwash. This natural acid can be used to clean coins, pots and pans, and more. Step-2: Mix dish soap with water in a bowl. Be patient and try not to get frustrated. Split your coins into three categories: showing good detail, showing some detail, and showing no detail. Copper coins often turn a muddled brown color, and these marks can be cleaned off with salt and a mild acid like white vinegar. We will focus on the materials you need, how to use them, and most importantly, how to carry out the cleaning process in a safe way so that the pennies do not get damaged or lose their integrity. If you have questions, always seek the help of a professional coin cleaner and coin grading service. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The acid from the ketchup can help to deal with oxidation as it forms on your coins. Brighten old, dark pennies in seconds! EBay, one of the most popular online auction sites, charges a 10 percent fee plus listing fees. Collectors actively look for the tiniest flaws in pennies and they have all the necessary tools to find those flaws. Passchal.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.comSitemap | Contact | Privacy Policy. Thats not necessarily to say the material so much as the purpose of the coin. 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. When they are sufficiently clean, lay them out on a soft cloth, dabbing them dry with gentle pressure. Just remember to rinse the pennies thoroughly after all cleaning methods. This detector features multiple search frequencies and has 2 different coin modes: one for foreign coins and one for U.S. coins. For coins that are not terribly valuable, you can clean them yourself with little to no worry. There will be times when you think your coin is clean, only to discover later that its still dirty. Ketchup can restore the copper glow of a penny. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Vinegar and salt are the best methods of cleaning your pennies. These coins range in value from a few cents to a small fortune, if you are lucky enough! This process only works in fluid. Looking to achieve that bright, orange-copper color? Remember to not use tap water because the chemicals are bad for the coins. After 24 hours of drying time (72 hours if you live in humid conditions), use a soft cloth like an old T-shirt or washcloth to buff up all sides of your penny until it has regained most of its original shine! While you're grasping the coin firmly by its edges, use a clean toothbrush to lightly scrub the flat surfaces of the coin. These were 95 percent copper and 5 percent zing. Hydrogen peroxide can prove effective in removing various materials, including organic material. Mix cup vinegar with 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl that is non-metallic. That is because ketchup has vinegar in it, which is naturally acidic. Next, soak the coins in the solution for 5 minutes, making sure theyre spread out so theyre all submerged. As you can see, these materials are very cheap and easy to find anywhere. Coins Metal Detectors One of the most recommended cleaning solutions for wheat pennies is white vinegar. Soak the coins for 12 hours. To clean using this method, place your coins in a small plastic container, fill with enough hydrogen peroxide to cover, and soak for 24 hours. So, in this article, Im going to explain to you exactly how to clean wheat pennies safely and effectively! Dissolve 1 tsp (7 g) of table salt in a bowl with of white distilled vinegar. SALT AND VINEGAR EXPERIMENTPulire le monete di rame in 1 minuto con sale e acetoMusic:"Fluffing a Duck" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creati. Enjoy! If you had a rare coin you had cleaned too harshly, and wanted to have it valued, it would reduce the coins value. A professional coin valuer will notice these minute scratches on the surface from cleaning. Do not rub them or the dirt and debris on them can scratch them and ruin the value. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Your fingers contain oils, acids, and minuscule pieces of grit that will adhere to the surface of the coins and cause them to discolor or suffer microscopic scratching. Add distilled water and a small amount of dish soap to your shallow bowl. Make sure to use small, circular motions. 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. I usually DO NOT use water or oil, b. For tips on how to shine your coins with baking soda, read on! You can visit a local coin dealer if you have one nearby. Rubbing or scrubbing a coin (even with non-abrasive liquids) will leave microabrasions on your coin and cause a severe reduction of value or elimination of any collectible value.