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How to Clean Tarnished Silver Coins

If your silver coins are tarnished and dirty, it is possible to restore their shine with little effort. The chemical reaction between silver, aluminum and baking soda removes tarnish with no polishing necessary. Simply submerge the washed coins in a baking soda solution with aluminum and watch the tarnish disappear.

Things You'll Need

Aluminum foil
1/2 gallon water
1/2 cup baking soda
Cloth
Pan
Kitchen mitts
Dish soap (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Wash the coins with a little dish soap and warm water if they're dirty. Wipe with a cloth and rinse thoroughly.
- 2
  Plug your sink and line it with aluminum foil. Place the coins on top, making sure they're all in contact with the foil.
- 3
  Boil 1/2 gallon of water in a pan. Put on kitchen mitts and carefully pour the boiling water into the sink. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda.
- 4
  Allow the water to cool to a safe temperature. Check the coins to see if the tarnish is gone. You may need to flip the coins over, boil more water and repeat the process again.
- 5
  Rinse the coins thoroughly and dry with a towel.

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