Im also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). Any type of eraser works to remove the build of dirt. it helped me to find my manipulated variables.". 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. Copper oxide (the gunk on your pennies) dissolves in weak acid, and that's just what all three of these liquids are. As a science writer, she explores all aspects of science from mites living books to noctilucent clouds, stretching across the mesopause. Stir the mixture to dissolve the salt. You might also use a small drawstring bag or jar, or carry it with you in a change purse. Paper towels. If you're thinking of cleaning coins with Baking Soda and Vinegar you'll want to watch this video FIRST and THEN read our helpful tips for cleaning coins safely at home yourself:All of our tips for CLEANING COINS SAFELY are here: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/cleaning_coins/These are the REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT CLEAN COINS (and what you should do instead):https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/how-to-clean-coins/Here's a list of ALL THE WAYS people are cleaning coins today:https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/how_to_clean_coins/This is HOW YOU CAN TELL if a coin has been cleaned:https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/cleaned-coins/============================SUBSCRIBE to get more COIN TIPS: https://bit.ly/COINSyoutube Hit the BELL next to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a video!============================ABOUT The Fun Times Guide To U.S. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. If the residue is difficult to remove, some rubbing alcohol purchased from a drugstore can be used to remove stubborn residue. When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, the acid breaks down baking soda, releasing carbon dioxide gas that can help lift dirt from the surfaces being cleaned. If they remain dirty, place them back into the oil and repeat the process. Stir until the salt is dissolved. Go over the entire surface of the coin using smooth, circular motions. 1) Fill the bottom of a small bowl with 1/2 1 inch of Then, stir in 1 teaspoon (6 g) of salt. Receive the latest Home & Garden Tips by entering your email below: We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. Take one coin out of the vinegar at a time and immediately sprinkle a pinch of baking soda on the surface. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Real Helpful. Squeeze enough ketchup or Tabasco sauce into a small container or bowl to cover your pennies and place the coins into the sauce, making sure they do not overlap. Although this is using acid to clean your coins, it is a very low-level acid that is safe to use. To create this article, 129 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Bonus: Put a couple of new steel nuts or bolts in the pan with your pennies. How Many Coins Are in a Regular Roll of Coins? As a base, baking soda dissolves organic compounds like dirt, grease and other sticky ickies. Soak them in a bucket of warm water and vinegar for about 15 minutes. Mix a teaspoon of salt into the liquid by stirring until it is dissolved. If you want to learn how to use a commercial metal cleaner, keep reading the article! Do NOT. Remove the pennies from the solution and rinse under warm running water. While this process is extremely long, the final result is worth the wait. References. If you would like to add a little bit more shine to your pennies, follow up with the Bon Ami Cleanser or bakingsodamethod described below. While holding the penny with your other hand, rub the mixture onto the front and the backside of the penny at the same time. Therefore, zinc (a much cheaper metal) started being used. If you would like to add a little bit more shine to your penny, do the "Bon Ami Cleanser or Baking Soda" method described below. If you don't have vinegar, use lemon or even orange juice. Press the wet brush into baking soda and listen to the oddly satisfying hiss :) Scrub the penny in long strokes applying a decent amount of pressure. While this method will remove surface contamination, it may not make the copper penny bright. Once youve rinsed the pennies, set them aside on a layer of paper towels to dry. Cleaning pennies can be a fun activity for kids of all ages. Place your pennies at the bottom of the cup or glass so that they are not stacked on top of each other. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Step 6 (optional): If your coins are still dirty, you can fill the plastic container with a 1-inch layer of warm water. Enjoy! Pour the lemon juice into a small container or bowl and add the salt. Take the coins out and place them on the clean, soft cloth. Its essential to use a mild cleaner when cleaning old coins. A clear, shallow bowl (not metal) 2 clean steel nails. Rinse under warm, running water and dry them with a soft cloth. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. In this video we clean pennies with vinegar and salt.Just mix together some vinegar with enough salt to make a saturated solution. This article has been viewed 1,414,495 times. According to Amanda Morris, associate chair of the chemistry . Using chemical cleaners or scrubbing the coins could leave scratches and marks that will be easy for a skilled appraiser to pick up on. Even if you don't collect coins \u0026 you just want to know specific coin values or how to keep coins safe START HERE:https://coins.thefuntimesguide.comReal People. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Rub that all over the penny with your fingers to bring back the shine. Other coins can be worth thousands, and in rare cases, millions. He has over 50 years of numismatic and writing experience, including a monthly magazine column for the American Numismatic Association. While valuable coins are best left alone, everyday pennies look shiny and new after proper cleaning and make your collection look stunning. If youre attempting to clean a large amount of pennies, you may need to empty the dish and mix up some fresh solution periodically. Follow These Easy Steps to Clean Copper Naturally So it Looks Brand New, Why You Should Sprinkle Baking Soda Into Your Stainless Steel Sink, 7 Things You Should Throw Away (or Clean) in Your Homeand How to Know, How to Clean Copper Naturally So It Looks Brand-New, 5 TikTok Cleaning Hacks That Will Change Your Life, How to Make Your Glass Shower Doors Sparkle, 16 Surfaces That Are Trapping Bad Odors in Your HomeAnd How to Fix Them, 96 Surprising Ways to Clean With Household Items, 8 Things You Should Never Clean in a Dishwasher, How to Clean a Dishwasher for Sparkling Clean Dishes, You Can Use Cleaning Vinegar to Clean Almost EverythingExcept These 6 Things, How to Clean Water Stains From Fabric, Walls, and Carpet, Clean These 5 Things Before You Go on Vacationor Risk Coming Home to a Stinky House. This recipe also makes an excellent homemade brass cleaning solution. Vinegar alone is not strong enough to remove the worst buildup from old pennies. Vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid (HC2H3O2), produced by bacteria during fermentation. They will start to turn a copper in color as they sit in the solution. Like vinegar, citrus juice is acidic and wears off copper oxide on coins. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. She finds every aspect of science intriguing and considers a good day to be one where she learns something new and unexpected. Rinse the coins to reveal the now-shiny surfaces. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Clean-Pennies-with-Vinegar-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Pennies-with-Vinegar-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Clean-Pennies-with-Vinegar-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8789167-v4-728px-Clean-Pennies-with-Vinegar-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"