Cleaning Pennies

We all have pennies, and they are usually dirty. With this instructable, you can clean your pennies very easily using only a few steps.

Step 1: Gather Supplies

You will need:

Dirty pennies

1/4 cup vinegar

1 tsp salt

a non-metal bowl

napkins/paper towels

a cup or bowl of water

Step 2: Create the Cleaning Solution

In a non-metal bowl, mix the salt and vinegar. Stir until the salt if completely dissolved.

Step 3: Clean the Pennies

Place about 5 pennies in the vinegar solution. Wait for 10-20 seconds, then remove the pennies and place them in water. This will remove any extra vinegar. If you don't do this, the pennies will start to turn a gross color of green.

Step 4: Dry Them Off

Take the pennies out of the water and place them on a napkin/paper towels. Dry them off and then you are done. You now have clean pennies!

Comments

[PlaidPete]

Step one: take your pennies to a bank. Step to ask for new pennies.

[Cerd71]

The best thing I have used to clean copper is muriatic acid, found near
the paint thinner in your local hardware store. It only takes seconds
to clean it with a q-tip, but you definitely need to wear thick gloves
and be very careful. Also, when not even boric acid will clean copper
wires, I have used it to remove black corrosion from copper wires before
soldering. The stuff is wonderful, but very dangerous. I also recommend
paying the premium for low odor formula because the stuff is disgusting
if you breathe it in.

[Cpat150]

I went with this option as it is safer than muriatic acid, and i had all the supplies lying around my house.

[Cerd71]

It is certainly safer. But the acid is much faster and I think it does a better job. Each has it's pros and cons.

[picturesofsilver]

I like the fact that this is safer than other chemicals; I still used gloves as a precaution, but there was no odor other than the vinegar. I've cleaned drains by dumping baking soda in the drain then adding vinegar that foamed up. I don't know if that was unhealthy to breathe but I didn't get close enough to breathe it anyway.

[russbrew2]

If the penny is valuable (and some really are- check a coin book for condition and value) then you've totally ruined it. This goes for any coin- copper, silver, gold. Check for condition/value first.

[shermanduke]

Agreed.

[TomV4]

And what is the cost per penny?