How to clean old coins from dirt and plaque: a legal way to "launder" money

It's hard to imagine how much dirt and germs are on ordinary coins. In fact, cleaning old pennies from dirt and grime is very easy and you can do it with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

Of course, it's better not to clean old collectible coins yourself as they can lose their value. Apartment Therapy has told you how to clean copper money.

Dishwashing detergent

The fastest and easiest life hack is to use dishwashing detergent. Just add a little liquid to a bowl of warm water, mix until foamy, and dip the coins in the solution. Next, use an old toothbrush to clean off the toughest dirt.

Vinegar and salt

Mix vinegar and salt in a container until the latter is completely dissolved. Then dip the coins in the acidic mixture. The product will start working in seconds, removing signs of aging, such as copper oxide, from the coins. Finally, rinse the pennies under running water and dry them with a paper towel.

Baking soda

Baking soda will help give your coins an extra shine. You can use it pure or mix it with water to form a thick paste. The abrasive particles will quickly remove dirt and the coins will shine like new.

Ketchup

Apply a small amount of ketchup to the coin, rub it with a cloth or toothbrush for a few minutes, and rinse it off under running water. Vinegar and tomatoes act as acids that can break down surface stains. The acid in ketchup will effectively clean the surface of copper oxide.

Lemon juice

Many of the most effective life hacks for cleaning coins involve acids, so lemon juice will also come in handy. You can make a solution of citric acid and water, or simply rub the coins with half a lemon. After the coins have been soaked in acid for about five to ten minutes, they should be removed one by one and polished with a paper towel.

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