Home >> Collecting >> Coin Collecting

How to Clean Coins Fast

Coins with years of accumulated grime and tarnish often can be cleaned quickly and inexpensively with household materials. While some coins might never regain their original, newly minted shine, the dirt can be removed so details are visible once again. Coin cleaning techniques include dealing with small spots that can be removed fairly quickly, to getting rid of more extensive corrosion and grime with stronger methods that also will work fast.

Things You'll Need

Pencil eraser
Ketchup
Toothbrush
White distilled vinegar
Salt
Lemon juice
Metal bowl
Clean cloth
Metal tongs
Tarnish remover

Instructions

- 1
  Rub a pencil eraser on the coin to remove minor spots and grime.
- 2
  Dip a tarnished coin in ketchup and rub it with a cloth to remove more extensive corrosion. Several applications of ketchup might be required.
- 3
  Drop pennies in a bowl of 1 cup of distilled vinegar mixed with 1/4 cup of salt, and soak for a few minutes to remove grime. Then scrub with a toothbrush to get into the nooks and crevices on the coin. Rinse in water and dry with a clean cloth.
- 4
  Place old silver or copper and nickel coins in a lemon-juice bath to soak, then scrub with a toothbrush, rinse in water and dry with a clean cloth.
- 5
  Use metal tongs to dip heavily corroded coins in a bowl of tarnish remover, then wipe clean with a cloth.

Coin Collecting