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Published at 22nd Jun 2023
Modified at 28th Nov 2024
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
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.
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