How To Clean Paper Money

Obrada...

How To Clean Paper Money

Should You Clean Paper Money? How Do You Clean Paper Money?

These are two very frequently asked questions.

Paper Money can pick up stains, dirt and impurities very easily. There is always a temptation to clean or wash banknotes to improve their appearance. By using incorrect cleaning methods the notes can degrade quickly. Hopefully this will give you a little insight on how to clean paper money properly.

Firstly, should you clean paper money? The first answer of most dealers and collectors is “No, definitely not... unless.” It’s the same answer coin dealers also give, but the “unless” is important. If you have an almost uncirculated note with a small mark on it, don’t touch it. If it’s a rare example, don’t touch it. If it’s a high value note, don’t touch it.

There is a bit of a theme developing here which is if it’s slightly dirty, rare or valuable, leave it as it is. In exceptional cases you might want to find a specialist conservator that uses specialist materials to conserve and protect a piece.

If it’s not rare, not valuable, it’s very dirty, and/or worn, there are some things that can be done. 

If it’s light dirt, surface grease, mold spores or pencil marks, using something like Picreator’s Groom/Stick is great. It’s a natural rubber compound that can be used to lift dirt off the surface by dabbing. It doesn’t leave any residue or rubbings (like you would get from an eraser) and it has a low risk of damaging a note if used correctly.

If it needs a bit more than a precise dust off, gentle washing may be the answer. A guide to washing a banknote is below, but remember that you need to be gentle. It’s also a good idea to research if the note would have originally had any type of coating as some of these are water soluble, such as shellac.

A very important point is to make a record of what has been done to a note, for both yourself and future collectors. Make notes as to whether the note has been cleaned, washed, pressed, and any method used. If you move the Paper Money on at any point in the future, make sure to disclose any treatments it may have had.

What You Need To Clean Paper Money

1. A clean plastic lid or a sheet of acrylic which is used as a clean surface.

2. A clean plastic container or bowl full of warm soapy water.

3. Dish washing soap or other gentle cleanser.

4. One cup of water.

5. A sponge.

How To Clean Paper Money

How to Clean Paper Money

  • Place your old paper money on the clean plastic surface.

  • Pour the water in the container.

  • Add a small amount of dish washing soap.

  • Dip the sponge in the soapy water.

  • Very softly wipe the note laterally, from the middle to the edges.

  • Be sure not to scrub or aggressively wipe the note to avoid tears, creases and damage.

  • Make sure you lightly wipe both ends of the notes.

  • Turn the note over and repeat the same cleaning process.

  • Use some clean water to rinse the note off in the same way as the cleaning.

  • To dry, air drying is the best option. It’s not recommended to fan dry as the note can blow away. If the note is creased after drying you can try and flatten it by using a heavy book on top.

How To Clean Paper MoneyShop For Bank Notes

How To Clean Paper Money

Should You Clean Paper Money? How Do You Clean Paper Money?

These are two very frequently asked questions.

Paper Money can pick up stains, dirt and impurities very easily. There is always a temptation to clean or wash banknotes to improve their appearance. By using incorrect cleaning methods the notes can degrade quickly. Hopefully this will give you a little insight on how to clean paper money properly.

Firstly, should you clean paper money? The first answer of most dealers and collectors is “No, definitely not... unless.” It’s the same answer coin dealers also give, but the “unless” is important. If you have an almost uncirculated note with a small mark on it, don’t touch it. If it’s a rare example, don’t touch it. If it’s a high value note, don’t touch it.

There is a bit of a theme developing here which is if it’s slightly dirty, rare or valuable, leave it as it is. In exceptional cases you might want to find a specialist conservator that uses specialist materials to conserve and protect a piece.

If it’s not rare, not valuable, it’s very dirty, and/or worn, there are some things that can be done. 

If it’s light dirt, surface grease, mold spores or pencil marks, using something like Picreator’s Groom/Stick is great. It’s a natural rubber compound that can be used to lift dirt off the surface by dabbing. It doesn’t leave any residue or rubbings (like you would get from an eraser) and it has a low risk of damaging a note if used correctly.

If it needs a bit more than a precise dust off, gentle washing may be the answer. A guide to washing a banknote is below, but remember that you need to be gentle. It’s also a good idea to research if the note would have originally had any type of coating as some of these are water soluble, such as shellac.

A very important point is to make a record of what has been done to a note, for both yourself and future collectors. Make notes as to whether the note has been cleaned, washed, pressed, and any method used. If you move the Paper Money on at any point in the future, make sure to disclose any treatments it may have had.

What You Need To Clean Paper Money

1. A clean plastic lid or a sheet of acrylic which is used as a clean surface.

2. A clean plastic container or bowl full of warm soapy water.

3. Dish washing soap or other gentle cleanser.

4. One cup of water.

5. A sponge.

How To Clean Paper Money

How to Clean Paper Money

  • Place your old paper money on the clean plastic surface.

  • Pour the water in the container.

  • Add a small amount of dish washing soap.

  • Dip the sponge in the soapy water.

  • Very softly wipe the note laterally, from the middle to the edges.

  • Be sure not to scrub or aggressively wipe the note to avoid tears, creases and damage.

  • Make sure you lightly wipe both ends of the notes.

  • Turn the note over and repeat the same cleaning process.

  • Use some clean water to rinse the note off in the same way as the cleaning.

  • To dry, air drying is the best option. It’s not recommended to fan dry as the note can blow away. If the note is creased after drying you can try and flatten it by using a heavy book on top.

How To Clean Paper MoneyShop For Bank Notes

Ovaj tekst je strojno preveden. Prikaži original?

Je li ovaj članak bio koristan?

Pretraži Coin Encyclopedia

Ancient Greek Coins

Ancient Greek Coins

Articles relating to Coins from Ancient Greece.
3 članaka
Auction News

Auction News

Updates on interesting Lots in auctions around the globe.
4 članaka
Australian Coins

Australian Coins

Articles Relating to Australian Coins
6 članaka
British Coins

British Coins

Articles relating to British Coins.
4 članaka
Canadian Coins

Canadian Coins

Articles and Resources relating to Canadian Coins.
2 članaka
Coin Articles

Coin Articles

Collection of articles providing lots of useful information on coins through the ages.
29 članaka
Coin Collecting

Coin Collecting

Articles and Resources relating to general coins collecting subjects.
7 članaka
French Coins

French Coins

Coins articles about French Coins
4 članaka
News

News

Latest news from Coins Auctioned
9 članaka
Paper Money Articles

Paper Money Articles

Articles and Information relating to Paper Money.
5 članaka
Roman Coins

Roman Coins

Articles Relating to Roman Coins.
12 članaka
Russian Coins

Russian Coins

Articles relating to Russian Coins.
2 članaka
Silver Coin Articles

Silver Coin Articles

Silver Coin Articles
12 članaka
South African Coins

South African Coins

Articles Relating to South African Coins.
1 članaka
US Coins and Currency

US Coins and Currency

Articles regarding Coins and Banknotes from the USA.
15 članaka