\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Ketchup can restore the copper glow of a penny. "Baking soda is the opposite of vinegar. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Other coins are molded from different metals, so the solution may not work as well on them. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Cup or glass (plastic or glass, but not metal), Can take up to 15 minutes (not good for impatient children). Rinse the coin again. 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. This article has been viewed 1,414,495 times. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Bonus: Put a couple of new steel nuts or bolts in the pan with your pennies. A quick wash will also help neutralize the overpowering odor of the vinegar. The copper that is dissolved in the vinegar will be attracted to the steel nuts and bolts. Rinse the remaining ketchup from the surface of the penny under warm running water. For a DIY bathroom cleaner, combine 1 2/3 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of dish soap in a bowl. To restore pennies to their original luster, simply plop them into a solution of vinegar and salt, let them sit for a few minutes, then rinse them off and watch them shine like new. Consider adding salt to your vinegar/citric acid/soda. The same applies to any piece of Fe.) This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This technique is an easy way to clean silver coins and zinc pennies without causing damage, too. It is harsh like vinegar but dissolves organic matter," Nyman told Live Science. Real People. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Pour cola over the top of the coins until they are covered. This type of cleaner is also the best way to polish brass and clean other metal surfaces. As time passes, the copper reacts with the different impurities in the air. When pennies are first minted they have a bright orange-red color. Some people love ketchup so much they even put it on their coins well, maybe not because ketchup makes coins taste any better, but because the shiny, red condiment can help remove grime, grease, and other surface adherents from coins. You can polish your pennies with a polishing cloth from a silverware set to give them a polished surface. 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. Rinse the penny under warm water and dry with a soft towel. This procedure gives your pennies a nice DIY copper polish that you can also use for copper items throughout your home. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Make a paste by mixing just enough warm water and baking soda in a small bowl. This natural process begins by putting about a quarter cup of tomato ketchup into a small container. Read more in our privacy policy. Include phases. This technique is very similar to the pencil eraser technique except that we add a little bit of ketchup to the process to help remove the oxidation. Heres a debunking of some popular coin cleaning methods: Youve probably seen a few websites that suggest your coins pearls need to be a little whiter. Should Coin Collectors Clean Their Coins? Follow this with one cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle to kill bacteria and soften fabric. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Leave the paste on for about 1 minute to 10 minutes, depending on the severity of the tarnish. See in real-time how well this classic method of cleaning coins with baking soda AND vinegar works on some old coins. Ive authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below! wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Coins:We help you identify U.S. coins worth money! Pat the coin dry with a soft cloth. It's essential to know that some pennies are collectibles worth quite a bit of money, and cleaning them can reduce or destroy their value. You may want to use one of the above methods such as lemon juice or ketchup to brighten the surface of the copper. So why are these household items such effective cleaning agents? Wait about five minutes and check your pennies. However, the acid can also wash away a coins patina, significantly lowering the value of the coin. They will start to turn a copper in color as they sit in the solution. pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is, on a scale from 1 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic), with a neutral value at 7. 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! For pennies of any possible value, do not clean them! 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. By using our site, you agree to our. Use very light pressure from your finger to remove any debris from the coin while its being held under the stream of water. The goal of cleaning coins is simply to prevent future damage by removing whatever contamination is already on the coins surface that could further discolor or devalue the coin itself. If your coins are still dirty, you can fill the plastic container with a 1-inch layer of warm water. Scrub pocket change with baking soda and vinegar. Baking Soda. Give the pennies a good rinse, dry them in a towel, and they should be shining like new. While there was little purpose in cleaning the coins that I was about to hand over to the bank teller, the dramatic transformation of watching dingy, grime-covered coins come out sparkling clean was oddly satisfying. While holding the penny on a flat, stable surface with one hand, use the pencil eraser to rub the dirt and brown oxidation off of the penny using a small circular motion. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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