How to clean dirty coins at home? Is it possible? Yes, you can easily clean your dirty coins at home. Your coin should be treated with the same care you would use to protect your skin. The oils in your hands can damage a coin, so handling it as little as possible is best.
Just like you would not want someone else putting their dirty fingers on your skin, do not put your dirty fingers on a coin. Or you can use a glove when you want to handle it. But if you’re still persistent about cleaning your coins and want to see them shiny again, this guide will help you clean them using household items.
How to Clean Dirty Coins at Home:
What Household Items Should You Use?
- Coke or Soda
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Lemon Juice
- Ketchup

How To Clean Dirty Coins at Home Using Coke



Things you need:
- Bowl
- One can of Coke
- Dirty coins
- Soft Cloth
Duration: 5 – 15 minutes
Step-by-Step Process:
- Add a can of Coke to a bowl and stir the solution to create an even mixture.
- Add your coins to the bowl and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Check if the corrosion on your coins has washed away. If not, soak them again for another 15 minutes before rinsing them with water. But remember that if a coin is left in soda for longer than 15 minutes, it can dissolve the metals inside!
- After soaking them, rinse them with water and dry them with a soft cloth.
How To Clean Dirty Coins at Home Using Baking Soda



Things you need:
- Bowl
- Baking Soda
- Cold Water
- Dirty Coins
- Soft Toothbrush
- Soft Cloth
Duration: 30 mins – 1 hour ( Depends on how many coins and how dirty it is)
Step-by-Step Process:
- Add Your Coins To A Bowl
- In one bowl, add cold water until all the coins are well covered. The water you need depends on how many coins you have, but ensure they’re fully submerged.
- Pour about one teaspoon of baking soda into another bowl or container with enough room for all your coins.
- Scrub The Coins With Baking Soda And Water
- Now it’s time to scrub the dirt and grime with baking soda! Put some baking soda into your hand and gently rub over each coin in your first bowl of water while making circular motions around them until they are clean and shiny again (it might take some elbow grease, depending on how dirty yours were). You can also use an old toothbrush if desired–be careful not to damage any engravings or designs stamped onto them during this process!
- Dry Them Off And Enjoy Your Clean Coins
How To Clean Dirty Coins at Home Using Vinegar



Things you need:
- Bowl
- Vinegar
- Dirty Coins
- Soft Cloth
Duration: 30 mins
Step-by-Step Process:
- Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a bowl and your coins.
- Let the coins soak for 30 minutes.
- Rinse them with warm water and dry them with a paper towel or soft cloth.
- Put the clean coins in a jar or container with a lid to store them until you use them again.
How To Clean Dirty Coins at Home Using Hydrogen Peroxide



Things you need:
- Hydrogen Peroxide 3%
- Paper Towel
- Dirty Coins
- Soft Cloth
Duration: 30 mins
Step-by-Step Process:
- Dampen a paper towel in the hydrogen peroxide and wipe down your coin.
- Rinse the coin with water, then dry it with another paper towel.
- Buff the coin with a soft cloth to shine it up!
How To Clean Dirty Coins at Home Using Lemon Juice



Things you need:
- Lemon Juice
- Soft Cloth
- Dirty Coins
Duration: 5 mins – 15 mins
Step-by-Step Process:
- To clean your coins, start by lining them up on a soft cloth or towel.
- Next, rub the lemon juice over them with another soft cloth until the dirt comes off. If there are any stains left behind, try rubbing them with lemon juice, this will allow for better penetration into the grooves of your coins and help remove stubborn stains that may be stuck there!
- Finally, rinse all traces of citric acid before drying off each coin; if you miss some areas with water droplets, they may become tarnished once more when exposed to air over time after drying out completely.
- After rinsing off any remaining residue from your cleaning process (which shouldn’t take longer than five minutes), dry each coin with another soft cloth and then place it back into its protective sleeve/case immediately. Please don’t leave them out in direct sunlight for too long!
Disclaimer: Lemon juice is a great way to clean copper coins. You can use lemon juice on copper and copper-plated coins but do not use it on silver or gold.
How To Clean Dirty Coins at Home Using Ketchup



Things you need:
- Bowl
- Ketchup
- Dirty Coins
- Soft Cloth
Duration: 15 mins
Step-by-Step Process:
- Put your dirty coins in a bowl.
- Soak them in ketchup.
- Let them sit for 5 mins to 10 mins.
- Rinse them with water and dry them with a soft cloth.

The items that you can use to clean your coin are pretty common. However, if you’re cleaning coins at home and not in a professional setting, there are some things to remember. What happens when you clean a coin? You may think it would just be cleaned, but cleaning coins has side effects. For example, cleaning your coins at home using household materials (like those listed above) will react differently than if an expert professionally cleaned them.
Household Items That Can Protect Your Coins
Now that you know how to clean coins, it’s time to learn how to protect them. Here are two household items that can help:
- Soft cloths: If your coin is in its case or holder, use a soft cloth on the outside. The cloth should be dry and clean before gently wiping away any dust from your coin. Be careful not to scratch or rub too hard—you don’t want to damage your coin’s surface!
- Soft brushes are great for cleaning away dirt and grime after you’ve cleaned your coin with water or a wet solution. You can also brush off dust if there’s no liquid involved in your cleaning process (for example, when using wax). Make sure that whatever brush you use is gentle enough not to scratch any surfaces on either side of the cleaned object!
Coins are valuable to collectors, so you want to take care of them. You may not know exactly how to clean your coins, but using household materials is an excellent way to start. Let’s consider how these substances can affect your coins and what you should consider before applying them.
Ask Professional Help
If you must clean your coin, you should do it with a professional.
- The best way to clean a coin is to have it professionally cleaned.
- Cleaning coins yourself can devalue them and make them less valuable!
Before you go…
I’m not going to tell you not to clean it. However, I’ll remind you that if you do, do it with a professional. The best way is to AVOID CLEANING YOUR COINS ALTOGETHER.
Check out my next article: “The Guide on How to Clean Coins with Baking Soda.”
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