1. Gather your materials. You will need:
- A glass or ceramic container
- White vinegar
- A soft cloth or paper towel
- Optional: baking soda (for stubborn tarnish)
2. Prepare the solution. Pour enough vinegar into the container to fully submerge the penny. If the penny is heavily tarnished, you can add a teaspoon of baking soda to the vinegar.
3. Soak the penny. Place the penny in the vinegar solution and let it soak for at least 10 minutes. The vinegar will react with the tarnish and dissolve it.
4. Rinse the penny. After soaking, rinse the penny under warm water to remove any remaining vinegar or baking soda.
5. Dry the penny. Use a soft cloth or paper towel to gently dry the penny.
6. Buff the penny. Use a soft cloth or paper towel to buff the penny until it shines.
Vinegar is a safe and effective way to clean pennies without damaging them. However, it is important to note that vinegar can also react with the copper in the penny and turn it a reddish color. If you do not want the penny to change color, you can use a different cleaning method.
