Home >> Collecting >> Coin Collecting

How to Clean Old Paper Money

Old paper money is often covered by layers of dirt and grime, having been passed between individuals many times over the years. If you want to clean bills before putting them back in your wallet, or attempt to remove glue, tape or pencil marks, there are a few methods you can try.

Things You'll Need

Bowl
Dish soap
Water
Clean cloth
Washing machine
Laundry detergent
Rubbing alcohol
Paper sheets
Book

Instructions

- 1
  Pour 2 cups of warm water into a bowl. Mix with 2 teaspoons of dish soap.
- 2
  Wet a clean cloth with the soapy water. Gently rub the dirty note in a circular motion.
- 3
  Another option is to clean the paper money in a washing machine. Place the bills in your pants pocket and run the pants (and your money) through a wash cycle, using detergent as with a regular load of laundry.
- 4
  For especially hard-to-remove markings, put 2 teaspoons of rubbing alcohol on a clean cloth. Gently rub the bills until the dirt is removed, then rub clean water on the money to remove the alcohol.
- 5
  Whichever method you use, allow the bills to air dry. This can be done by placing the money in between paper sheets and pressing them in a book.

Coin Collecting