Do you collect smashed pennies during your vacations? I’ve had a collection of them for as long as I can remember. Because I never think far enough ahead to actually bring shiny new pennies, the smashed pennies in my collection are in various stages of tarnish, up to and including completely black. With a new project in mind, I wanted to get them as clean and pretty as possible.
How To Clean Smashed Pennies
Homemade Copper Cleaning Paste
It’s easy to clean your smashed pennies (or any copper, for that matter) with a paste made of vinegar, salt and flour. Mix one tablespoon of salt and one tablespoon of flour together. Add vinegar until a thick paste forms. Dip in the pennies and let them sit until dry. Rinse off with warm soapy water.
Cleaning Pennies With An Eraser
If you’re not happy with your final results, it probably means your penny is high in zinc. Just use a standard pencil eraser to shine it up if that’s the case. Remember that pennies from different years have different metal compositions, so your final results will vary.
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