White vinegar and salt do not clean a penny better than lemon juice. Lemon juice is a more acidic natural cleaning agent than vinegar. It also contains citric acid, which is an excellent solvent for removing built-up grime and dirt from pennies.

While vinegar is also acidic, it is not as strong as lemon juice and does not contain citric acid. Salt, on the other hand, is an abrasive that can help remove surface dirt and grime but does not dissolve built-up gunk.