How to Repair German Medals

Examine the medal carefully. Hold a magnifying glass up to the medal to see if there is actual dirt or grime on the medal, and not natural patina. The patina may appear as a bronze or bluish green color around the edges. Remove the ribbon part of the medal and place it on the side, so it does not get wet. If the ribbon cannot be removed, cover it with a small plastic baggie and tape the bag shut with Scotch tape. The plastic will protect the ribbon from water.

Take an old toothbrush -- one with soft bristles -- and dip it into a gentle formula metal polish. Use silver polish or an all-purpose metal polish if the medal is not silver. Place a small amount onto the toothbrush, and gently scrub the medal, being careful not to scrub too hard, but enough to lift any surface dirt or old grime.

Use a silver cleaner if the medal is made of silver, white metal or brass. Use a brass polish for stubborn stains on brass medals, and only on medals that don't lose their value if patina is removed. Some brass polish may lift the natural patina more than other cleaners. Lift dirt out of crevices around the medal with cotton balls.

Remove dirty polish on the entire medal with a clean hand towel. Polish the medal with a soft cloth once the polish and grime are removed Rub the medal with the cloth until it begins to shine, and then place the medal into a protective wrapping or display box.

Clean rare or valuable German medals that do not have ribbons in warm water. Place a small amount of warm water in a bowl, and soak the medal. Add a few squirts of gentle dish washing liquid to the water, and let soak for 10 to 20 minutes, or until the surface grime begins to lift. Remove the medal and run it under clean tap water. Dry the medal with a soft towel. Make sure the medal is fully dried, and never submerge a medal into water if the ribbon is still attached.