Using 'Baby Wipes' To Clean Coins?

[RobJ 0]

I wasn't sure where to Post this Topic but I thought that here was as good a place as any. lol

On a recent visit to a Local Dealer I happened upon a conversation that he was having with another Customer about the cleaning of coins.

The Customer was saying that he uses 'Baby Wipes' to clean his coins. He said that he swears by it, and said "Well if it doesn't harm a baby, it won't harm my coins will it?"

I asked him what about the longer term effects? I understand that it may clear any excess dirt or grease from the coin but what happens to the coin a month, six months, or even in a years time?

He said that he has been doing it for a very long time and that it had never affected any of his coins be it Gold, Silver, Copper or Bronze. He said that after he had used the 'Baby Wipes' he rinsed the coins in warm water (Which I thought actually defeated the object in the first place. lol) and that he let them dry natrually and that it "Worked Wonders!"

I am not so sure personally and think that it isn't a very good idea, as I cant imagine the 'Wipe' itself being very friendly to the coin.

So just out of sheer curiosity I was wondering if anyone had actually tried this? If so, what were the results?

Let me just state here that I personally think that cleaning coins in any way - Except perhaps in certain cases a very gentle clean in warm soapy water for Silver Coins and gently patted dry with Micro Fibre cloth - is a very bad idea and I would never entertain the thought, as I would much rather have a dirty toned coin than one that has been ruined by cleaning!

[Peter 615]

We use baby nappy sacks for the dogs whoopsies.....far cheaper than pet shop versions.

I've used olive oil on lesser Romans which have may have been buried for 2000 years and had good sucess...it takes a long time...I recently found a cup full(2 years in the oil but 75% are now keepers).

Don't know about the baby wipes...a bit of soapy water and a pat dry is as far as I go...however I usually only buy nice coins

Baby wipes are good for the car (and beach) to clear up messy fingers.

[argentumandcoins 70]

My little un is 14 months old and I find that baby wipes work a treat...... on his bum!

Any mechanical coin cleaning is an absolute no go area. The wipe will be free of impurity (it should be anyway) but the coin surface will have microscopic abrasive particles on it. The act of "wiping" will leave the tell tale "hairlines" on the surface whether visible to the naked eye, or via magnification, they will be there.

[Hussulo 6]

Cleaning of coins - Don't do it.

He probably thinks its working a treat but when he comes to sell his collection I think he might be in for a nasty shock.

[VickySilver 836]

I believe there are unknown ingredients in these wipes that includes emulients and lubricants with unknown composition and therefore likely poorly studied long term effects on coin surfaces. You takes your chances...

[RobJ 0]

I must agree with what has been said here regarding cleaning coins with 'Baby Wipes.'

I do think personally think that it is a silly idea and I think that he may regret it in the long run.

I know that the Dealer also thinks that it is a silly idea, which was highlighted to me when he told me that this Customer had once brought in several coins to sell to the Dealer.

The Dealer said that they were actually rather nice coins, many of them in high Grades, but that he wouldn't touch them with a foot long stick as he knew what had been done to them!

[Peter 615]

Keep em natural ....a bit like ...oherr

[Red Riley 2]

Keep em natural ....a bit like ...oherr

Spit it out Peter.

[Peter 615]

Keep em natural ....a bit like ...oherr

Spit it out Peter.

Red.... I like my coins round and well struck with a nice bust.

[Peckris 579]

My little un is 14 months old and I find that baby wipes work a treat...... on his bum!

Any mechanical coin cleaning is an absolute no go area. The wipe will be free of impurity (it should be anyway) but the coin surface will have microscopic abrasive particles on it. The act of "wiping" will leave the tell tale "hairlines" on the surface whether visible to the naked eye, or via magnification, they will be there.

Except for micro-fibre cloths - they clean glass without any scratching whatever, so will be safe for coins. But of course, not to be used with cleaning or polishing fluids!!

[moneyer12 0]

i use an acetone dip to clear away any crud on coins, i have a swedish coin which had a blob of crap on it which soapy water wouldn't budge but 3 minutes in acetone and a rinse in distilled water removed the crud, dry by dabbing with a soft cotton cloth.

[Hussulo 6]

Acetone dip works well on silver, especially silver coins with PVC residue. If coins have been stored in PVC flips, over time they develop a slime as the PVC reacts with the silver.

If you leave it too long the coins surface will be ruined but a dip in 100% acetone will remove the slime and shouldn't damage the coin.

Apart from acetone I wouldn't use anything.

Also be careful when handling acetone. Do so in a well ventilated area, try not to spill any on your skin or inhale any fumes. Its also very flammable.

[RobJ 0]

Just out of curiosity I decided to put this 'Baby Wipe' theory to the test.

Don't worry, I only used coins that I found in my change to experiment on.

I gently rubbed a few coins including an old and new 1p, 2p, 5p and 10p, with a 'Baby Wipe' and then rinsed them afterwards and let them dry naturally.

I also gently wiped and rinsed a similar set of coins in just water and let them dry natrually just to compare both sets afterwards.

If I'm honest both sets of coins didn't look much different afterwards, they did appear to be 'Cleaner' but I assume that is just that any surface dirt was removed from them when being wiped and then rinsed.

The only thing is, after a few days the ones wiped with 'Baby Wipes' have started to discolour and have taken on a greenish hue.

The other set do not appear to be any different.

There was obviously residue of some description left behind on the coins, even after rinsing and this has reacted with the metal on the coins.

As I suspected, this is a very silly idea!

[Hussulo 6]

Personally I wouldn't wipe any of my coins. A rinse in acetone or distilled water is okay.

I've heard of some people that have used the tip of a cocktail stick or rose thorn to remove any crud in between legends etc. but you don't want to leave a mark on the coin.

Recently bought some new coins to sell on my site. Unfortunately someone has wiped the obverse of this coins. It would have been a lovely coin, but the wipe has brought the value down:

http://www.prestigenumismatics.com/1916-george-v-half-crown-44-p.asp

[RobJ 0]

That just goes to show how an attractive coin can be relegated instantly by someone being thoughtless and careless in giving it a wipe to make it 'Look better.'

I have heard some horror stories about people cleaning very nice examples of coins only to ruin them in the process. I heard the story of one chap that put a load of coins in a Dishwasher to 'Spruce Them Up' before selling them. It goes without saying that the chemicals in the Dishwasher Tablets all but ruined the coins.

I personally tend to think about it in this way.

Coins tone and develop a Patina naturally over time. Each coin tones in a different way and I believe that it adds character to a coin, and that it makes each coin very individual and unique and that is how they should be.

Give me a toned coin full of character any day.