Wiping With MicroFiber Cloth: Cleaning?

I ask the question out of an abundance of caution.

Cleaning, as understood by most coin-savvy folks, results in an alteration in the appearance of a coin surface by physically changing that surface in a way that can be seen. That statement may or may not be true...but it fits what I know & believe.

MicroFiber cloths are a mystery to me. Their ability to remove smudges and other superficial blemishes on glass, polished stainless steel, glazed ceramic and other common surfaces previously successfully approachable only with commercial "surface cleaners" or hot soapy water, seems nearly magical.

I understand that Silver, Copper, Bronze & CuNi are softer than the surfaces listed above, and therefore potentially more vulnerable to anything hard enough to cause visible damage (scratches, even very fine scratches).

Has anyone used MicroFiber fabric on coins to successfully remove fingerprints and other similarly superficial blemishes...without damaging their surfaces? This question has to do with business-struck only; I have no proofs, nor anything else with mirror surfaces.

This post is way too long for the simplicity of the query; my apology for being a bit too loquacious. Warren

 

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No sir. Wiping is an intolerable sin.... In all seriousness I own what I believe is as near perfect half eagle as I have ever seen. I have shown it to three different numismatists that are far more educated than I and each has looked at it through a loupe and told me the coin was wiped. Try as I might to see the evidence of the wipe, I cannot........ Any abrasion (and microfiber fits that description) is a negative mark to our coins.

 

I accept your judgement, Doug...with humility.

I'll keep MicroFiber away from my coins, period. Thanks...Warren

 

Microfiber picks all that stuff up for a reason. It will also leave behind stuff on that coin you want to wipe down. Never wipe a coin as you will leave scratches on it. You might not see them but they are there as is the design on that coin.

 

As GDJMSP said, wiping always leaves traces behind. It is like a crime, it always leaves traces behind that damage the reputation of that coin, or in real life, of that person.

 

I....feel so noob. I'm glad I'm reading this now, because I have sinned folks!
I had been trying to remove little smudges here and there with a cloth designed to clean glasses lenses, and occasionally a 'microfiber' cloth (although I was very very gentle and the cloth either brand new and/or hand washed with a tiny amount of dish soap and dried-then handled with gloves so I don't just smudge my fingerprint residue back into the cloth). I THOUGHT I WAS SAFE...
Turns out microfiber secretly means "microscaryscratchydeathfibers."
From now on I guess I'm just going to have to appreciate any smudge or imperfections and chalk it up to the coin having character if any, and leave them alone. Thanks for posting the experiences everyone, I have learned a 'harsh' lesson today.....get it? Harsh?

 

Well it's cleaned but not harshly. As I said earlier, wiping leaves scratches. Glad you learned and hopefully it wasn't a costly lesson. I gave you your first like as you learned a lesson and admit it.

Welcome to CT.

 

If they're circulated coins, you may be OK. If they're proofs, that's a whole other ball game.

 

On the heels of this enlightening post I've got to add my unrelated yet relevant experience.

My wife and I went to Lowe's a number of years ago to inquire about carpeting. Upon finding a nice comfortable selection the salesperson gave us the rundown. It seems that carpet was very eco friendly. As soft and comfortable as it was, it was made entirely, 100% out of recycled plastic bottles. We were mind blown. Couldn't believe this was accurate. The fabric was soft to the touch. Knock me over with a feather.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Totally understandable and believable that microfiber cloth is made from harsh plastics as Doug has so eloquently stated.

FYI, in case anyone was interested, we did buy the plastic carpet

 

My opinion, if it's fine to wipe a coin that's circulated, I mean it can't be any worse than peoples hands and pockets, right? I'm sure it does something, but it's a lot less than the friction of circulation.
That said though, any friction is going to technically cause some sort of abrasion to the surface, so wiping is definitely harmful because friction is harmful, just as flowing water (as harmless as it appears at face value) causes erosion/abrasions over time, or a acid or alkali is corrosive or caustic respectively.

even an eye glass wipe is abrasive, because friction is abrasive.

And masterswimmer's post about carpet, even the 100% cotton carpet will give you a rug burn, that's friction at work. recycled plastics, finely stranded into a fiber, yeah, also abrasive, so is cellulose which is used in a lot of things including paper, is a plant fiber at it's base, but it's a polymer. cotton fiber is 90% cellulose so even a 100% cotton carpet, is still 90% polymer. hahaha!

Friction is bad for everything, friction = wear.

 

Wow...that's amazing - I recently bought some new dishcloths/towels and thought "these feel kinda rough". So I understand now what these cloths would do to a coin; esp. a proof coin (it would be totally ruined). But they do a great job on dishes and countertops!! Thanks for the info!

 

I have been blown away. I had just turned my computer on and came to CT and while I was waiting for it to load, I got my glasses from its case and took out the "microfiber" cloth they gave me and was cleaning my glasses and thinking, "I wonder why they don't use something this soft that I can clean my glasses, to "polish" my coins." Thankfully, I read this blog before I did any damage.
Thank you for the information.

 

Thank you for this post and its chain of responses, which responses and opinions have all been very illuminating! I will never touch another coin with a microfiber or any other cloth. My Rule-of-Thumb going forward: Do NOT Wipe Coins EVER! Just accept them as they are, especially if you're intending to have them graded.

 

Micro-fiber sticks to my fnger tips like velcro.

 

Just a follow up on the microfiber cloths. I am a car guy and have a bunch of them laying around. I became an eyeglasses wearer three years ago and I cleaned them daily with my microfiber cloth. I had to replace the glasses not long ago because it looked like I had been cleaning them with sandpaper!

 

Well, I'll simply say this...and while I'm not advocating it, it is what it is: I have many a coin in straight-graded PCGS slabs that have been gently-to-moderately wiped with soft, unscented/untreated toilet tissue to bring out some brilliance and/or to smooth off some smudges. It began as an experiment on one coin...I could never tell, and after submitting it successfully I figured that apparently, never could they, either, so now/then when it seemed to help, I kept it up and have never had a "Details"/no grade come back from any of those submitted.

 

Any particular brand?

 

That's a great question as some are rougher than others. BTW @Mike Thorne , I really enjoy your articles in Coins Magazine...just wanted to let you know...