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How to Clean Silver Dollar Coins

If you collect silver dollar coins, there are a couple of simple and easy methods for cleaning your coins using ordinary household items. You can clean your coins with commercial-grade silver cleaner, but that can be harsher on your coin. As such, use commercial cleaners if you are comfortable with them and know what you are doing. Using these methods, however, are generally safer and will still produce good results. Keep your silver dollars shiny and looking like new.

Things You'll Need

Lemon acid
Vinegar
Sour milk
Potato
Tissue
Soft brush

Instructions

Using a Lemon Soak
- 1
  Soak the coin in a bath of lemon acid. How long you leave it soaking depends on how oxidized the coin has become. For a little oxidation, leave it soaking for a few hours. If severely oxidized, you may need to leave it soaking for a day.
- 2
  Remove the coin and gently brush at it with a soft brush, like a toothbrush.
- 3
  Rinse the coin and pat it dry with a tissue.
Alternative Spot Cleaning
- 4
  Dip a tissue into warm vinegar or sour milk, as either of these will work as your acid solution.
- 5
  Rub the damp tissue on small oxidation spots on your silver dollar coins.
- 6
  Alternatively, cut a potato and rub the raw potato on the coin, using the acid from it.
- 7
  Rinse the coin in water to clean off any acids, then pat it dry with a tissue.

Coin Collecting