\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 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. If your pennies literally have soil or some sort of unidentified gunk on them, you will need to remove that before trying to make your pennies bright and shiny. However, the acid can also wash away a coins patina, significantly lowering the value of the coin. She finds every aspect of science intriguing and considers a good day to be one where she learns something new and unexpected. You cant watch daytime TV without seeing at least one or two ads touting the latest and greatest silver or copper polish. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Use your fingers to work the cleaning paste into the surface of each coin and then rinse them under warm water to wash all residue away. If your pennies are scratched and newer than 1982, they may end hollowed out. You can even use tamarind juice instead of vinegar or lemon juice. However, rolls of pennies that you get your local bank are almost certain not to contain any valuable coins. Both of these contain salt and vinegar that is mildly acidic and cleans copper coins with ease. He has over 50 years of numismatic and writing experience, including a monthly magazine column for the American Numismatic Association. How to Unclog a Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar - The Spruce ", "Doing a science experiment on this topic. Rub the baking soda into the face of each coin with your fingers to scrub away the dirt and grime. For pennies of any possible value, do not clean them! Therefore, before you clean any coin, be sure to determine if it is a valuable coin. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Place your pennies at the bottom of the cup or glass so that they are not stacked on top of each other. You may not be able to erase every last trace of discoloration on very old pennies. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It works on the same principle as using ketchup (Ketchup contains vinegar, salt and tomatoes), but there is less rubbing . How to Effectively Clean a Penny and Other Old Coins - Real Simple Gently scrub the coin with an incredibly soft brush. Most Valuable Quarters: A List Of Silver Quarters & Other Rare Quarters You Should Hold Onto! Mix 1 teaspoon (5.69 g) of salt with the vinegar. Rub that all over the penny with your fingers to bring back the shine. It does this by using the low levels of acids that are contained naturally in vinegar and lemon juice to remove the patina (brown oxidation) on the penny. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Unlike the bleach-ammonia mixture, combining soda and vinegar won't hurt anyone but don't expect the mixture to do a good job cleaning, either. While holding the penny with your other hand, rub the mixture onto the front and the backside of the penny at the same time. Cleaning Coins With Baking Soda & Vinegar See How Well This Method Works. Cup or glass (plastic or glass, but not metal), Can take up to 15 minutes (not good for impatient children). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. Mix a teaspoon of salt into the liquid and stir till it dissolves. How to Clean Wheat Pennies Safely and Without Damage - Discover Detecting Once the washer is filled, before the wash cycle starts, drop in a cup of vinegar. 4 Ways to Clean Copper Coins - wikiHow This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. How can I clean them? 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. The copper that is dissolved in the vinegar will be attracted to the steel nuts and bolts. If your kids want a more hands-on approach to coin cleaning, add a small amount of water to a tablespoon of baking soda to form a paste. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Gentle cleaning methods that use natural items like vinegar and salt are preferable to commercial coin cleaners, which usually contain harsh chemicals that can easily damage the coin. Both the baking-soda-and-vinegar and the baking-soda-and-salt methods can be . If youd prefer to use a commercial metal cleaner to clean coins, try Bar Keepers Friend. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. If the foreign substance on the coin is not easily removed, place the coin in the small bowl and let it soak for a bit. Using copper cleaning methods on a zinc coin turns the penny black. Any type of eraser works to remove the build of dirt. 0:00 / 7:01 Cleaning Coins With Baking Soda & Vinegar See How Well This Method Works TheFunTimesGuide 1.74K subscribers Subscribe 169K views 3 years ago #coins #coincollecting. 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 dont have any of this product, make a paste from baking soda and vinegar and apply the same way. Removing patina, tarnish, and gunk from those coins is simple using the right cleaning solution. Next, add a squirt of dishwashing liquid and agitate the water to create bubbles. References. Allow the coins to soak for a while to loosen up years of gunk. If you're a novice coin collector wondering the right way to clean old coins, you might want to rethink it. Rinse the penny and your fingers under clean running water and dry with a soft cloth. Cleaning pennies can be a fun activity for kids of all ages. If your coins are still dirty, you can fill the plastic container with a 1-inch layer of warm water. ", http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/copper_caper.html, https://www.mrbondscienceguy.com/science-blog/2018/2/21/cleaning-pennies, https://sciencing.com/use-salt-make-penny-disappear-8183059.html. Related: Does salt make water boil faster? Additionally, be careful how many pennies you do at one time. Spray the paste with vinegar before scrubbing the grime away. Remove from the bin, place on the soft cloth and allow to dry naturally. For many pennies, one tablespoon (15 g) of salt in 1/2 cup (4 oz) of vinegar will get the job done. Dip your coins in white distilled vinegar and let them soak for about 30 seconds. For best results, use a pure, potent type of vinegar, such as distilled white vinegar. "I am doing the science fair soon, and my question was, "How do different liquids affect the luster of, "It was very useful for my science project. Copper oxide (the gunk on your pennies) dissolves in weak acid, and that's just what all three of these liquids are. Specific elements are required to clean copper properly and turn dirty pennies into shiny pennies. Take one coin out of the vinegar at a time and immediately sprinkle a pinch of baking soda on the surface. This procedure gives your pennies a nice DIY copper polish that you can also use for copper items throughout your home. First, lay your dirty penny on top of a piece of paper or clean cloth. Im the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. Learn how to clean copper pennies using items you have in your cupboard right now. Wet the affected coin with clean tap or distilled water, roll in baking soda, then gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Now pour some baking soda into a small dish and add some water to make a thick paste. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It takes about 5 minutes for lemon juice to react to the penny. 10 Ways to Use Baking Soda and Vinegar for Cleaning - wikiHow As a scientist, Stacy Kish has focused her research on Earth science, specifically oceanography and climate change. The highly acidic nature of ketchup helps lift away dirt and debris when gently rubbed onto coins. Most people probably associate it with cooking, because it makes your cakes and breads big and puffy. In fact, it works so well that, like the other coin cleaning brews mentioned here, it can completely strip away the original patina and obliterate the value of the coin. Make your copper shine with simple home ingredients and just a little time. 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. When cooking greasy or oily foods, wipe the cookware with a paper towel before washing so less grease, oil, and fat go down the drain to form a clog. Who doesnt love a little ketchup with their French fries? Let your kids use an old toothbrush to apply the paste to each coin, scrubbing gently. Cleaning one-two punch As a base, baking soda dissolves organic compounds like dirt, grease and . You can also use lemon juice instead of vinegar. They will start to turn a copper in color as they sit in the solution. Pour cola over the top of the coins until they are covered. That's what happens when the copper, oxygen, and chlorine (from the salt) combine (called malachite). We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Allow them to sit for five minutes and then use a soft-bristle toothbrush to scrub the coins lightly. If you buy thru these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Step 6 (optional): If your coins are still dirty, you can fill the plastic container with a 1-inch layer of warm water. 3 Best DIY Fruit Fly Traps to Get Rid of Pesky Flies how to remove tarnish and clean coins using baking soda | howtofunda This mixture unlocks an effervescent fizz of carbon dioxide that cleans and freshen drains. Place the pennies into the solution, making sure that they do not rest on top of each other. . Today, I collect and study U.S. coins made during the 20th century.