Let's see if I can codify the "pants pocket/washing machine" method of cleaning coins. First you have to decide HOW MUCH cleaning you want to do. This is important in selecting from the following options. OPTION 1 - Pants Type (chose one); only one coin per pocket. 1. Jeans - coarsest so best for the deepest cleaning (dirty jeans add a bit of fine grit for that little extra scrubbing). 2. Khaki Workpants - not as rough as jeans and not quite as gritty 3. Dress Pants, Washable - great for the "average circulated" modern coin 4. Dress Pants, Dry Clean - slightly softer touch than the washable pants but not recommended. The Dry Cleaner tends to keep the coins. 5. Sweat Pants - great for that light touch-up; may have to search for ones with pockets. 6. Silk Underwear - perfect for prepping a coin for submission to a TPG. Cleaning is so light that the TPGs won't mention it (if they even detect it). VERY difficult find ones with pockets. OPTION 2 - Solvent 1. Hard Water - not recommended since it adds more crud than it removes. 2. Soft Water - best all-around 3. Alcohol - almost as good as Soft Water; helpful in removing oily residue. And if you select the right type (ethanol) you can drink it instead of throwing it away (don't try this with methanol or isopropyl). 4. Acetone - great for the toughest crud. Tough to find the coin after the washing machine blows up and takes half the house with it. And the coin might not be recognizable when done. Test at a Laundromat first; look dumb when the police question you about what happened; point to someone else. OPTION 3 - Additives 1. Nothing – if you are new to this cleaning method a good place to start. 2. Detergent – starts you well on your way to “blast white” silver and red copper. 3. Non-Chlorine Bleach – adds a slight twist when used with a Detergent 4. Chlorine Bleach – adds a big twist when used with a Detergent 5. Acids – requires a LOT of experimentation to achieve the desired results. Stick with the readily available types (hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric), and toy with the strength. Aqua Regia is particularly good with gold. Again, experimentation should be conducted at the Laundromat; be prepared with various dumb expressions. OPTION 4 – Drying 1. Only air drying should be used. Do NOT machine dry the coins. You wouldn’t want to alter the coin’s surfaces.
My coins come out nicely cleaned when I forget to remove them from my pockets. Also my bills come out niclely folded after a good wash in my washing machine.
