How to Clean Money for Germ-Free Cash

Money is dirty and full of germs. Learn how to clean money without damaging your coins or paper money. Explore easy ways to sanitize your cash.

How to Clean Money - Coins

When it comes to cleaning and disinfecting your money, coins are the easiest to start with. Since coins are made of metals, the possibility of damaging them is less when removing dirt and germs like COVID-19 and MRSA. For cleaning your coin money, you'll want to grab a few tools.

• Rubbing alcohol

• Hydrogen peroxide

• White vinegar

• Distilled water

• Dawn dish soap

• Water

• Salt

• Plastic container

Cleaning Coins With Soap and Water

One of the easiest ways to wash away germs from your coins is similar to washing your hands.

1. Add hot water to a bowl.

2. Add a drop or two of Dawn.

3. Allow the coins to sit for 15-30 minutes.

4. Rub your coins with the cloth.

5. Rinse with clean water and dry.

How to Clean Coins With Salt and Vinegar

Another cleaning method for really dirty coins includes white vinegar and salt.

1. Put a cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of salt in a jar.

2. Add your coins into the container in a layer.

3. Allow them to sit for about 15 minutes.

4. Rinse and dry.

How to Disinfect Coins

When it comes to disinfecting your money of germs, you can do more than just washing them.

Will Rubbing Alcohol Clean Coins?

Rubbing alcohol is an effective cleaner for your coins when it comes to disinfecting. Just like how hand sanitizer gets rid of germs on your hands, an alcohol scrub can eliminate germs on your coins. However, it's important to be careful with old or collectible coins.

1. Add a cup of alcohol and a few tablespoons of salt to a container.

2. Dump in your coins and let them soak for an hour or two.

3. Rinse using distilled water and dry them off.

Cleaning Coins With Hydrogen Peroxide

You can also use hydrogen peroxide to get your coin money germ-free. However, be aware that if these are precious or valuable coins, this method could harm them.

1. Put a cup or two of hydrogen peroxide in a container.

2. Add your coin money.

3. Allow it to sit for about a day.

4. Rinse and dry.

How to Clean Money - Paper

Paper money can be full of bacteria. Therefore, you might want to remove flu, COVID, and bacteria germs. However, according to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, paper money is pretty fragile. Therefore, when cleaning it, you want to stay away from harsh chemicals like bleach and high heat like in a microwave oven or stove. Therefore, to clean and disinfect paper money, you only need to use a few things.

• Mild soap

• Water

• Sponge

How to Not Damage Paper Money When Cleaning

While it's important to keep your paper money clean, you also don't want to damage it. Therefore, it's important to be careful.

1. Wet a sponge with and add a squirt of mild soap.

2. Wipe down the front and back of the bill gently.

3. Rinse with water.

4. Allow it to air dry.

Alternately, you could also allow your paper money to bake in the sun for 4-5 days.

How to Sanitize Money Properly

When it comes to how to sanitize your money properly, you want to remember to do so with care. And if your money is old or valuable, then you want to use even more caution when cleaning it. And when it comes to cleaning pennies, there are different juices you can try.