Cleaning pennies

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I've looked through a few methods for cleaning pennies, but I'm uncertain what they have done to the composition of the surface.

I'm using the pennies for an experiment. I'm placing the pennies into a zinc chloride solution mixed withzinc powder and boiling the solution.

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good way to get them cleaned and still allow the reaction to proceed without problems? I'm planning on dipping the pennies in vinegar and rubbing it off with steel wool (according to one site).

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Soak 'em in coca cola

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I've heard ketchup works well

link

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I left a bar of dial soap on top of a few pennies (by accident) and it cleaned them rather nicely...regular copper cleaning methods don't seem to work as well, probably due to whatever it is they are being made of these days.

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Now that I have a lot of pennies I'll try them all. Thanks.

BTW, why is this topic featured?

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I think ketchups the best way.

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alias404 wrote:

Now that I have a lot of pennies I'll try them all. Thanks.

BTW, why is this topic featured?

'Cause it's a kind of different question. We rotate the featured/defeatured topics all the time so right now this one is in the rotation. If you have ideas for featurings/defeaturings, feel free to drop the Mod Team a line by clicking Contact Us at the bottom of every page. Thanks -- and thanks for noticing. Smile

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A vinegar and salt mix does the job really fast. I've never tried ketchup or coca cola or even vinegar alone. How quickly do they work?

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I was gona suggest coke,ironic tho as the last thing coke did to my teeth was clean them!

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Ketchup works fast, mainly though I just like squirting it all over pennies.

Just squirt let it sit a few minutes and rinse.

Whatever you do though, don't use catsup.

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Catsup? Isn't that the stuff that kitty-cat regurgitates? Hey lookie there! There's a penny in the catsup. And a button...and a dime....and a ball of fur....

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Chai Tea wrote:

Ketchup works fast, mainly though I just like squirting it all over pennies.

Anything that has acetic acid (Ketchup, Pickles etc) works for cleaning pennies. Lemon juice works well too. Tamerind may help.

In short anything sour is applicable.

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Yes and no. One has to be careful with just what is used; as, the properties of the penny, merging with the properties of whatever chemical solution is being used may cause the penny to develop an unnatural and thus unhealthy appearance.

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Sturgis wrote:

Yes and no
Quote:

Sturgis My Mom uses Lemon to clean almost everything that's metal, including stainless steel. Tamarind works great on copper vessels. Ketchup proves useful on coins.

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Vinsan, I am not debating the products which you stated for the uses stated, I was just indicating how certain acidic properties tend to clash with certain metals and therefore exercising a measure of caution when going in to do a project.

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Sturgis wrote:

Vinsan, I am not debating the products which you stated for the uses stated, I was just indicating how certain acidic properties tend to clash with certain metals and therefore exercising a measure of caution when going in to do a project.

I know sturgy, Me not debating either. But lemon juice or tamarind are perfectly safe for domestic use coz they are naturally balanced in their strengh of acidic properties.

Just to give u an idea, in India every 5th housewife uses lemon, tamarind to clean rusty, stained utentsils. Hence I stressed upon it.

But I do agree with what u said.

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Sturgis wrote:

Yes and no. One has to be careful with just what is used; as, the properties of the penny, merging with the properties of whatever chemical solution is being used may cause the penny to develop an unnatural and thus unhealthy appearance.

If the penny developes an unnatural/unhealthy appearance, you might try increasing the folic acid in its diet.

If it has an immediate social obligation to meet, I think L'Oreal's Age Defying Foundation, in one of the darker shades would help.

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Not a Revlon or Elizabeth Arden product? Hmmm... I'll have to make note of that Chai Tea.

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Well, maybe I'm prejudiced.

I'm a L'Oreal Girl.

They make a hair color Feria that is excellent, I think there is most likely a color close to copper penny.

That would probably be in the range of an 74 since Ruby Fusion is a 66, and I just recently started toning down to a Mahogany Brown, which is a 59.

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Chai Tea wrote:

Ketchup works fast, mainly though I just like squirting it all over pennies.

Just squirt let it sit a few minutes and rinse.

Whatever you do though, don't use catsup.

Omg, I think I used catsup by mistake. What's going to happen???!!!???

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Cleaning pennies

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