Thread: Dirty Money

So I just got a large consignment of Turkoman and Kushii coins for my next project (a tribaretish coin bra and belt). The coins are a bit on the grubby side and need a bit of a clean. Anyone got any recommendations? Coke? Cillet bang? I don't want them hugely shiny, but I don't really want to be wearing years worth of grubby fingers either !

I would go for coke.

But then you could always try the housewife's-choice-for-pretty-much-everything, vinegar, and see what that does. Would be a smelly job vs. a sticky job though eh?

There is a debate about vinegar. Vinegar will antique the coins. It oxidized metal. Some poeple use vinegar and salt combo

Coke a cola is a a good option. the other which comes to mind is Never Dull which is a metal cleaner. Also Brasso as you aren't concerned with damaging the coin faces.

The weirdest suggestion I have had is the hot sauce from taco bell. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

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Originally Posted by tahiradancer

There is a debate about vinegar. Vinegar will antique the coins. It oxidized metal. Some poeple use vinegar and salt combo

Coke a cola is a a good option. the other which comes to mind is Never Dull which is a metal cleaner. Also Brasso as you aren't concerned with damaging the coin faces.

The weirdest suggestion I have had is the hot sauce from taco bell. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

Yeah yeah ketchup - that's the one I couldn't remember.

Since you just want to get the dirt off, how bout some hot soap and water? It's metal, but not iron, I don't think you have to worry about rust. Soap and water won't make them shiny.

Ketchup works quickly on brass. I use it on all my brass platters and urns. Tomato paste on the toughest spots. Much cheaper and more effective than Brasso.

To clean coins initially I would place the coins in a colander and sit the colander in a tub or bucket of soapy water. Easier to check the progress without having to dip into the muck. Plus you can easily change the water as needed.

i use liquid dish soap and a stiff vegetable brush.
for the really stuck on junk, let the coins sit in hot soapy water for a few hours, then scrub with a wire brush or steel wool [wear gloves!]

then dry each coin very carefully with a towel.
if the coins have the soldered on metal loop, make sure its dry inside the loop too.

or you can tie them in a pillow case and throw them in the clothes drier :)

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

i use liquid dish soap and a stiff vegetable brush.
for the really stuck on junk, let the coins sit in hot soapy water for a few hours, then scrub with a wire brush or steel wool [wear gloves!]

then dry each coin very carefully with a towel.
if the coins have the soldered on metal loop, make sure its dry inside the loop too.

or you can tie them in a pillow case and throw them in the clothes drier :)

Those sound like good suggestions. I've also cleaned my rings with hydrogen peroxide -- it bubbles the dirt off. I'd try just one first though.

baking soda/water paste...though don't do it on a wood surface--it takes the finish off (learned that the hard way...)

toothpaste, believe it or not, but as mentioned, rinse VERY WELL, and dry with
towel

Are the coins silver-ish or copper? My hubby found a great way to clean silver alloy (which he uses on our Bedouin jewelry collection). It really beats scrubbing!

This only works for silver alloy! You need a combination of aluminum and baking soda, plus boiling water. He gets a disposable aluminum pan, puts in a liberal amount of baking soda, then pours boiling water over. Let it cool, then rinse. You may have to flip the coins over and repeat if the tarnish is really heavy. And you could use a glass baking dish lined with aluminum foil if you don't have a disposable pan handy.