How to Clean a Penny

After money has been in circulation, it often begins to look dirty. The following methods can be used to clean a penny (or any other type of coin). There are many methods of cleaning pennies including: salt and vinegar, taco sauce, pencil eraser, and steel wire brush.

Salt and Vinegar Technique

Mix ½ cup of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl. Let the penny sit for up to 5 minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a clean cloth. Repeat with the solution until all pennies are clean. If the solution starts to look dirty and doesn’t work as well, dispose of it and start a new batch.

Taco Sauce

Although some brands of taco sauce are mentioned more than others, they all work the same way. Apply a layer of taco sauce to the penny and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a clean cloth. The main ingredients of taco sauce are vinegar and water, so this is really a simplified version of the salt and vinegar technique. Don’t forget to ask for extra taco sauce the next time you make a taco run!

Pencil Eraser

Rubbing a penny with a clean pencil eraser will buff away unwanted dirt and grime. If you have a lot of pennies to clean, consider using a motorized eraser. These small tools can be found at a local drafting shop. If you can’t find one, don’t worry. A regular pencil eraser works just as well. It will just require a little more elbow grease.

Steel Wire Brush

If damage to the penny is of concern to you, the steel wire brush method should be avoided at all costs. If, however, you are simply to hand over a dirty penny to the local cashier, this method will work fine. Attach the wire brush attachment to a Dremel tool and buff the penny until it has reached the desired shine. A less harmful twist on this method is a soft bristled tooth brush. It will take a little more time and effort but will cause less damage than the wire brush.

Clean, Shiny Pennies

Once you have mastered how to clean a penny, you may use the same methods to clean the other coins jingling in your pockets. Cleaning a collectible coin is not recommended because it may take away from the value or even damage the coin.