I love sauce (some people call me the "Saws Baws") but for some reason my mouth can not handle the heat of hot sauce. Something happens when hot sauce hits my tastebuds that sends my mouth into a frenzy, gives me a cold sweat, and makes me want to rage out like The Hulk. That is why I don't eat it. I do however seem to end up with drawerfuls of the Fire variety from Taco Bell though and when I found out that I could clean pennies with it I was pretty psyched that I could share in what seems to be everyone's love of hot sauce (though in a slightly different manner).

Cleaning pennies with hot sauce is a pretty cool thing because it's interesting to think that this food condiment has the power to strip away the gunky nastiness that resides on this low denomination coin. It's also a cool thing because it's free! Taco Bell gives away those Fire sauce packets by the fistful and other varieties are pretty easy to come by at other fast food establishments too.

Check out this video of me making Penny Lasagna-Chili:

Oh yeah, also don't forget to stop by the last step for a special digital patch opportunity!

Step 1:

Stuff you need:
-dirty pennies
-hot sauce
-a plate or bowl with a flat bottom
-water for rinsing
-paper towels for drying (optional)
-gloves (optional)
-toothbrush that you won't want to use in your mouth later (optional)

Why the gloves?
I recommend using gloves if you're going to be really getting in there and cleaning the coins by rubbing them or by using a toothbrush. The first time I cleaned pennies with hot sauce I had my hands in the hot sauce for a long time and they started to burn. I guess it resulted in a chemical burn from the capsaicin and the beds of my fingernails burned so bad for hours. I finally found relief by dipping my fingers in a tub of sour cream that was about to expire but just wear some gloves and you avoid all that.

Step 2:

Tear open a packet of hot sauce and squirt out the contents into the bowl. Spread the sauce around so that it covers the bottom of the bowl.

Step 3:

Add the pennies. Make sure the pennies don't overlap so that each one is in direct contact with the hot sauce.

Step 4:

Top off the pennies with a second packet of hot sauce. Make sure they are all covered so the hot sauce can work its magic.

Step 5:

You can let the pennies sit for the hot sauce for awhile if you want but usually the bulk of the nastiness is removed upon contact.

Rinse away the hot sauce with some water and claim your cleaned copper beauties.

Step 6:

If you want to get a little artistic you can use a toothpick or stencil to add designs.

PATCH ALERT!!!
Get out those dirty pennies and hot sauce packets because if you make a designer penny of your own and post a picture of it in the comments below then I'll send you a digital PENNY PATCH! (up to 18 patches remain)