Okay, DD has a Disney Princess bank made out of what I assume is PVC material. This bank canNOT sit on her dresser without something underneath it, otherwise it leaves a sticky residue ring. We've had the bank for just over a year. Today we dumped all her money out and it was DISGUSTING!!! The 'film' on all the coins was thick and gross. ALL the pennies were dark colored, and the silver coins were very dull, too. Some had the green tinge to them. WHY? Is it lack of air circulation?? The bank just had a slot on the top for coins to drop through, so not much air circulates. However, in our downstairs closet we have a Rubbermaid container that has six inches of coins in it (yes, it's time to roll them!!) The container has no lid on it and it sits in the dark closet year after year, and the coins in the bottom sure don't get air and the coins are 'clean' and normal. Not the slightest bit tacky or disgusting or filmy.

SO! Any ideas of WHY my DD's coins are so filthy and disgusting?? I wondered if the copper pennies were ruining them all, but we have plenty of pennies in the Rubbermaid container, too.

And lastly, how do I CLEAN these coins?? They are just horrible to touch and handle.

By Tripletmom on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 11:12 am:

That's wierd,Why not look in the phone book and look under coin and stamp huts and see if they can recommend something to clean with.Good Luck and let me know what you find out.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 11:19 am:

I would suspect the Disney bank is causing some type of chemical reaction.

By Tonya on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 11:43 am:

Soap and water will clean them. Put them in a bowl of hot water and dish soap and let them soak then take your hands in there and move them all over playing with them. They will become clean.

By Sandysmom on Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 09:01 pm:

I've also heard that a solution of vinegar and water will help.

By Insaneusmcwife on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 12:44 pm:

ditto Sandy. I remember when I was in girl scouts we cleaned coins with vinegar water. Let them soak in a glass on strong vinegar water and they will come out shinny

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 07:02 pm:

If they are just ordinary coins and you are only interested in the face value, then soap and water and maybe a nail brush if needed. If they have any potential value as collectables - DON'T. If you think they have any potential value as collectables and you feel you really, really must clean them and they are not worth enough to take them to a professional coin dealer, here is a link, with lots of additional links in the side menu: about coins

By Maewee on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 02:50 am:

it sounds like moister got in the bank and that with not enough air will do that need keep moister away from them i agree soap and water

By Kate on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 09:07 am:

Well, soap and water definitely didn't do a thing. They are so grimy! They've sat in vinegar for 24 hours now and some pennies are shiny, but the silver coins haven't changed much, and anywhere a PENNY has been on a SILVER coin, the silver has turned copper color! I think the pennies are the ones who have caused the problem...

At any rate, no, they aren't valuable, I just wanted them clean enough for my daughter to handle and count. I think I'm going to give up and just roll them and get rid of them! DD still wants to use her bank though, and that's a problem.