Home >> Hobbies >> Other Hobbies

How to Clean Relics From Metal Detecting Finds

Going hunting for buried treasure with a metal detector is a fun and possibly profitable way to spend a weekend afternoon. Old coins, bullets, jewelry and eating utensils are some of the more common finds. After having being buried for a century or more, most of these items will be dirt-encrusted and oxidized. You'll be tempted to clean and polish them right away to restore their shine. Limit yourself to bathing them in plain water and a squirt of mild dish detergent to get rid of superficial dirt. Cleaning them improperly can make their value drop. Take them to a professional jeweler or coin dealer to determine their value first.

Things You'll Need

Water
Mild soap
Soft cloths
Old toothbrush
Baking soda
Low-abrasion toothpaste (optional)
Vinegar
Household ammonia
Silver polish (optional)
Jewelry cleaner (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Use an old toothbrush that's been moistened with water and dipped in baking soda or mild soap as a general cleaner. Alternatively, use a low-abrasion toothpaste in place of the baking soda. Polish with a soft cloth. Different metals sometimes require deeper cleaning and specific handling procedures.
- 2
  Clean silver by the gentlest method that removes tarnish, starting with baking soda, water and a soft cloth. Soak the silver item in a mixture of water and vinegar until the tarnish loosens and floats free if the other methods fail. Resort to specially formulated silver creams and polishes to remove old tarnish and stains.
- 3
  Place gold coins and jewelry in a mixture of water and household ammonia for a few minutes. Rinse the objects and polish them with a soft cloth. Use this method with a light hand to avoid damaging the gold's luster. As an alternative, use a jewelry cleaner and follow its instructions.
- 4
  Mix vinegar and water to a glass jar and immerse old copper and nickel coins in it for a few minutes. Use a soft cloth to remove the oxidation and polish the metal. Clean pewter, an alloy of tin, copper, lead and traces of other metals, and lead objects only with soap, water and a soft cloth. Pewter and lead are soft metals that are easily scratched by brushes and abrasive materials.

Other Hobbies