Vinegar, especially when combined with salt, can be an effective way to clean and shine copper coins, like pennies, by removing the dull layer of copper oxide.
Here’s how you can clean coins using this method:
- White vinegar (or lemon juice)
- Salt
- Small non-metal container or bowl
- Spoon (optional)
- Cloth or paper towel
- Prepare the Cleaning Solution: Pour vinegar into the bowl. Add salt to the vinegar (a common ratio is 1 tablespoon of salt per cup of vinegar) and stir until the salt dissolves.
- Submerge the Coins: Place the coins into the vinegar and salt solution, ensuring they are fully submerged and ideally not touching each other if cleaning multiple coins.
- Soaking Time: Let the coins soak in the solution for a few minutes. For pennies, you might see results within 30 seconds. For heavily tarnished coins, you might need to soak them for longer, [according to Real Simple] . Steel pennies might require a soak of an hour or even overnight for noticeable improvement, [says YouTube].
- Remove and Rinse: Carefully remove the coins from the solution and rinse them thoroughly with clean water to prevent further etching or potential oxidation.
- Dry: Pat the coins dry with a soft cloth or paper towel. Make sure the coins are completely dry to prevent any further oxidation.
- Valuable coins: Experts generally advise against cleaning valuable or collectible coins, as this can significantly decrease their value. If the coins are valuable, consult with a professional coin grading service or an expert before attempting any cleaning.
- Abrasives: Avoid scrubbing coins vigorously, as this can scratch the surface and reduce their value.
- Baking soda: You can also optionally use baking soda as a gentle abrasive after the vinegar soak, but be aware that it might leave scratches.
- Alternative cleaning methods: For light dirt, plain warm water and dish soap can be used as a gentler alternative to remove surface dirt and grime.
Note: The chemical reaction between the acid in vinegar and the copper oxide on the coins is what removes the tarnish and makes them shiny, according to ScienceBob.com. However, leaving coins in the vinegar solution for an extended period can etch the metal and might lead to an unsightly greenish-blue oxidation, [notes YouTube] . Therefore, it’s crucial to rinse and dry the coins promptly after cleaning with vinegar.
How long do you soak coins in vinegar to clean them?
Soak dirtier coins in a cup of white vinegar** — The acid in vinegar is great at dissolving stubborn stains or corrosion. You can soak the coins for at least 30 minutes, a few hours, or even overnight.
How to clean old coins without devaluing them?
Good point! You can usually get a jug of distilled water for a couple quid anywhere that sells baby formula. Let the coins soak for a day or two, then change out the water and turn them over, then give each coin a gentle rub with your finger tips or a soft bristle toothbrush while still in the water.
What is the best cleaning solution for coins?
Wrap the coin in foil and plop it into a bowl with baking soda and water or salt and water. Let it soak for a few minutes, then carefully unwrap. Voila! Your silver coin will shine bright like new, no damage done.
How do professionals clean silver coins with vinegar?
White vinegar is sometimes used without any additive as a bath for cleaning silver coins. This can be quite effective for removing tarnish or grit (though in doing so the acidic medium does eat away at the metal on the coin).