Currency changes hands all the time.You don't know where the money is located.Coins may be loaded withbacteria as a result of their tendency to build up grime.Coins can become sticky from sitting under a sweating soda can in your car cup holder, and dollar bills can collect dirt from the germs that rub off of people's hands.Attempting to clean currency, especially paper money, is often discouraged by banks, but as long as you are careful you can easily restore money that is in especially bad condition.
Step 1: A lingerie laundry bag can be used.
You can buy a new bag from the women's section at any clothing store.You can use this to protect your paper money in the washing machine.Small, zip-up bags made of fine mesh are designed to wash delicate undergarments.The bag will keep the water out of the washing machine drum.Paper money can hold up through an accidental trip through the laundry.Dollar bills are made from cotton and can be washed in a washing machine under the right conditions.The mesh wash bags can be purchased new for less than $10 in most places.
Step 2: The lingerie bag has a few loose bills in it.
There are dirty bills that need to be cleaned.Put them in the bag.All the bills need to be laid out.It might be a good idea to put a folded hand towel in the bag with the paper money to keep it from getting knocked around during the wash cycle.It's not a good idea to wash all of your paper money at once.If you clean bills that are caked with grease or dirt, you could be exposing yourself to a health risk.
Step 3: You can wash the bills in cold water.
You can turn on the washing machine by setting it to a gentle wash cycle.As the money fills the bag, place it in the washing machine.A small amount of detergent is added to the load.Take a look at the bills every now and then to make sure they don't get torn in the wash.The wash cycle should be cut off early if the bills are old or fragile.
Step 4: To dry the bills, lay them out.
Take the bag out of the machine.The bills should be removed from the bag.The wet money is very delicate and can easily be torn.Place the bills on a towel or dry surface.Before handling the bills, let them dry completely.Air can circulate around the bills if they are left beneath a ceiling fan.To be safe, paper money should only be air-dried.Don't put bills through the dryer or use a heat source to dry them.
Step 5: Put warm water in a basin or sink and mix it with soap.
Warm water can be run into a sink.If you want to make a soapy solution, add a small amount of liquid soap to the water.Most standard dish or hand soaps will work for the purpose of cleaning circulating currency.If you want to preserve the condition of the coin, mild soaps are preferable.There are elements in most detergents that can wear off a coin.
Step 6: The coins should be soaked in the soapy water.
Put the dirty coins in the soapy water solution.Depending on how dirty they are, allow them to soak for ten minutes to half an hour.The soap will killbacteria and eat away at stains, while the warm water will loosen the caked-on dirt.As the dirt soaks out of the coins, you will be able to see the water turn dark.Yuck!After they have had a chance to soak, use a sponge, scrubber, or cue tip to lightly clean the outer surface of the coins.After using the scrubber to clean coins, be sure to throw it away.
Step 7: Carefully wash the coins.
Once the coins have had time to soak, you can drain the dirty water from the sink or basin.Transfer the coins to a strainer in the kitchen or hold them up to the faucet by hand.If soap is found on the coins, rinse them with cool water.A thin coating of soap can stick to coins if they are not properly washed.
Step 8: The coins should be put on a towel.
Place the coins on top of the absorbent towel.To remove excess water, pat the coins with one end of the towel.The coins will be dry and clean in ten minutes.Water should not be allowed to stand on coins that have been washed.The metal can be damaged by the water.
Step 9: Purchase a bottle of pure acetone.
Purchase a bottle of acetone at your local hardware store.You need to get the industrial-grade variety.There are chemicals that can ruin the finish of a coin when acetone is used as a nail polish remover.It is useful for dissolving the dirt on coins, but it is also useful to kill the germs.
Step 10: A couple of ounces of acetone can be put in an open container.
The container has a wide opening.You will only need to submerge the coins when they are laid flat.Make sure to work in a well-ventilated area because acetone fumes can be harmful to breathe.Do not allow acetone fumes to enter your eyes.The acetone bath can be performed outside or near an open window.Use a container that is glass or ceramic.Plastic, styrofoam and other synthetic materials can be eaten by acetone.
Step 11: The coins should be soaked in acetone.
Drop the coins into the container.A powerful solvent that is perfect for dissolving stuck-on messes is acetone.The best way to remove the worst of the dirt is to soak the coins.Exposure to acetone can cause irritation to the skin.When working with acetone, wear gloves.The coins should be moved around in acetone to shake off the dirt.
Step 12: The coins should be washed with distilled water.
The coins need to be removed from the acetone bath.One last time, whisk them through acetone to remove the dirt.Get rid of the excess solvent.The coins should be transferred to another receptacle with pure distilled water.You can use distilled water to wash the coins.Leave the coins sitting out to dry by blotting them with a clean towel.If you want to make coins, you should use distilled water instead of tap water because it doesn't have the chemicals that react negatively with metals.