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How to Clean Old Money

Old money has exchanged many hands and has likely accumulated a large quantity of dirt and grime in the process. Unfortunately, there is no safe or effective method of cleaning old paper money. However, coins are sturdy enough to undergo a few different cleaning methods without being harmed.

Things You'll Need

Saucepan
Bowl
Dish soap
Cloths
Plastic container (with lid)
Olive oil

Instructions

- 1
  Boil 2 cups of water in a saucepan. Pour the boiling water into a small bowl and mix it with 2 tsp. of dish soap.
- 2
  Place old coins into the soapy water. Do not stack them on top of each other or allow them to touch. Let them to soak for four to five minutes.
- 3
  Remove a coin from the water and gently rub it with a clean cloth on both sides. Replace it in the water, and repeat the action for each additional coin.
- 4
  Remove all the coins from the water once they have been cleaned with the cloth, and rinse them individually under cool tap water. Place the coins on a clean, dry cloth and allow them to air-dry.
- 5
  Place especially dirty coins into the plastic container. Fill it up with olive oil and seal the lid. Allow the coins to sit in the oil for several weeks. During this time, the oil will slowly remove dirt and grit that are ground into the coins.
- 6
  Remove the coins from the oil and rinse them with cool water. Use a cloth to remove excess oil if necessary, and place them on a clean cloth to dry.

Coin Collecting