Coins are probably one of the few commodities that see some places even humans can’t reach: the inside of a pocket and the inside of a bank. While some coins are commonplace, others have sentimental value attached.
We can help you with the longevity of these coins without several tips on how to clean them. Check out our 9 tips to clean dirty old coins at home: with vinegar, silver, bulk, and safely.
Summary
The best and safest way to clean dirty old coins at home is with a mixture of hand soap and water. The best way to clean silver coins in bulk is with baking soda for it to be done safely. Fast Orange is the best product when you’re trying to clean coins in bulk.
In the article, we also take a look at the following topics:
Table of Contents
- Ways to safely clean dirty old coins at home in bulk
- Using vinegar
- Silver coins
- Should I clean my coins?
Ways to safely clean dirty old coins at home in bulk
Here’s how you can quickly clean dirty coinage in minutes to achieve shiny currency.
Get all things ready.
You will need a plastic container, some mild hand soap, a soft bristle brush, a small absorbent or microfibre cloth, and water.
Soak them
Make a mixture of some hand soap with water in the plastic container. Now dip the coin in it for as long as you can. A minimum of 15 minutes is a must.
Brush
Once the wait is over, remove them from the base of the container and lay them out. Take the brush and start scrubbing the surface to remove the broken-down grime.
Wipe
Use the microfibre cloth, then wipe the surface once the brushing has been done. You can dip it in clean water and leave it to air dry if that’s what you prefer.
Voila!
You’ve got brand new old coinage on your hands!
Using vinegar
There’s plenty you can do at home with just a couple of your kitchen ingredients. You needn’t run to Home Depot for every little cleaning assignment.
How to clean old, dirty coins at home with vinegar
- Gather your things
You will need white vinegar, baking soda, water, a couple of plastic containers like Tupperware, and a toothbrush from your kitchen. Also, have a cloth ready to wipe and clean afterward.
- Soak
Grab a container or bucket of water and add one cup of white vinegar to it. Now add the coins to soak for a couple of hours. If the condition of the articles is very dirty or corroded, you can leave them soaked overnight.
- Sprinkle
Now take them out and lay them neatly over a surface or a piece of cloth. Take some baking soda and sprinkle neatly on one side of all the bullions. Make sure all have a little bit of a sprinkle.
- Brush
Now take the toothbrush and start scrubbing the soda on the surface. Take your time on each one to carefully remove the grime. Once you’re done with one side, turn over all the coins and repeat the same.
- Rinse
Use some hot water to rinse them all out. Lay them out on a towel or cloth to air dry.
Silver coins
Silver is a whole new ball game. Since it’s a precious metal, the rust and corrosion over time are not the same as a regular penny. But make sure you are not looking to sell these afterward, as cleaning them could lower their value.
Let’s see how you can clean out a silver coin.
i. Gather your equipment
You’ll need aluminum foil, a plastic container, some baking soda, a pair of rubber gloves, and some water to rinse.
ii. Cover your tracks
Once you have the plastic container, create a bath for the coin by covering it in aluminum foil. It will create a non-reactive layer for the cleaning.
iii. Create the bath
Lay the silver coin in the center of the bath and add some boiling hot water on top.
iv. Add baking soda
What you’ll need to do now is to sprinkle some soda onto the coin in hot water. The water will sizzle and bubble as you do this, but it’s normal.
v. Rub, rub, rub
Once this part is covered, get the gloves on and take the coin out. The soda on top must be rubbed using your forefinger and thumb to remove the layer of grime. Slowly, you’ll start to notice the silver shining through.
vi. Repeat
Now repeat the process on the reverse side as well. Once you’ve done this, rinse out with cold water and leave to air dry.
Should I clean my coins?
If you’ve got a collection and you’re wondering whether you should clean up the grime on it, think again. Ask yourself if the coinage is of monetary value to you. In other words, do you mean to sell them one day? If yes, you probably shouldn’t be cleaning them. Cleaning them up will take away their years, and years is what gets you a higher rate on the antique market.
But if you only mean to keep them as a sentimental token, you can go ahead and clean it.
Gold and silver bullions are also for monetary gains, but they usually aren’t cleaned. You should avoid cleaning them and put them up for sale as they are. Any genuine buyer of precious metals will instantly know true gold or silver regardless of the years of grime and dirt.
FAQ
We’ve seen a lot of cleaning coins and displaying them. Let’s take a look at other queries.
Will vinegar cause damage?
Not at all! Quite the contrary. Acetic Acid is the magic ingredient in white vinegar that can magically dissolve all corrosion and dirt in a matter of minutes. Combine it with salt to make a saturated solution and wash away all grime.
Are they OK to clean?
If it’s coins that you mean to keep forever with yourself, it is ok to clean them. You will want to display them lovingly in albums and storage boxes to show off, requiring a gleaming collection. If you wish to sell any of them, you mustn’t clean them. Keep them safe in their containers to avoid scratching, but don’t go cleaning them with brushes and solvents. Devaluing might occur if any signs of wear and tear over the decades occur.
How do you clean coins without ruining their value?
The only way to do this is only to use water. Get some lukewarm water and run the coin under it. Rub with your fingers and try to get the grime off. Now repeat on the reverse side. When this is done, pat dry with a cloth.
Silver & lower values
The black grime on silver is known as toning. Cleaning the toning off will decrease the value as it will also scratch the surface below. Silver ones are worth more with the toning still intact.
