Potato penny cleaning method. (updated)

[Colorado Kidd]

I saw this over on the cleaning forum. This method was posted by cryptodave and my thanks to him because I have been looking for a way to clean my Wheat cents. He said to put the pennies in a potato and I just had to try it. I left it in for 24 hours and the results speak for themselves. All I did was rinse it off and dry it. I'm putting it in for another day in a fresh potato to see what happens. Thanks again cryptodave.


Here is the same penny after 6 more hours. It didn't take 24.

[Night Stalker]

Pretty impressive results! Who would have guessed a potato would clean a penny up like that?

Thanks for Sharing....

Night Stalker

[gold fish]

I've heard of a potato battery, could it be some sort of super light electrolysis ??

[pgill]

Rub a Potato on your windsheild, it stops it misting up in fog and other bad weather

God bless
Peter

[Bluezman]

Cool, who would have thunk. Wonder how was it discovered? I'll bet somebody tried to hide a penny in a potato!

If you put one copper and one zinc penny in the same potato, you think it would make a battery, or is it an iron nail and a copper penny?

I know that lead and zinc have a galvanic reaction when immersed in acid. So, if you use a little vinegar as an acid with the potato...hmm, then you might as well through in some mayo... can you clean pennies with potato salad?

I seem to be wandering. Maybe, I'll just try the penny in the potato! Thanks for the tip.

Bluezman

[cryptodave]

I cannot take credit for putting the penny in a potato. I read it in a book and tried it myself. The results were pretty impressive, the harder part was trying to convince others to try it!

There is no electrical charge, no added ingredients... Just a potato. The starch is what eats away to crud.

I do not recommend this method on "fatties" though, especially early years such as 1859 and 1860.

[papa]

How would it work on steel penny's

[BobinSouthVA]

Rub a Potato on your windsheild, it stops it misting up in fog and other bad weather

God bless
Peter

cut one in half and rub it on your grill for a great natural nonstick surface.

(and sorry for hijacking here )

[Yarrum]

Been meaning to try it myself and I will now with those great pics, thanks Colorado Kid.

[Cgardner]

the Steel pennies get clean but not quiet as clean... i have one that was covered with some black gunk that I am working on I will post sum pictures later if I can figure out how.

[PATreasureHunter]

What about Indian head pennies? Will you get the same results that you would get from wheat pennies?

[cryptodave]

What about Indian head pennies? Will you get the same results that you would get from wheat pennies?

I certainly wouldn't use it on a "fattie", but later dates I see no problem with.

[Functional]

I wonder if the potato's cleaning effect increases when baked?

Like many who have gone prospecting for gold, I've used the "baked potato method" to remove mercury from an amalgam made up of mercury and gold. It works, but then you end up with starchy gold thats kind of messy, but easy enough to clean up.

F.

[gold fish]

Tried it on IH pennies, and some buffalos. It took the crud off really well, just don't leave 'em in too long or they start to look kinda "rusty".

[PATreasureHunter]

How long did you have the buffalos and IH's in the potato?

[gold fish]

18 hours(about), first time. The second time I left 'em in for 24, which may be a little long. Thats how they got all rusty looking. I also changed potatoes on the first batch about halfway thru, that seems to help some, too.

[Southernhunter]

I had to try this so I took a corroded penny & put it in a (red) potato for 48 hours this morning & nada.

Perhaps it's the type of potato? I'm going shopping today so I'll get & try a regular brown potato...

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

18 hours(about), first time. The second time I left 'em in for 24, which may be a little long. Thats how they got all rusty looking. I also changed potatoes on the first batch about halfway thru, that seems to help some, too.

Agree, don't over do it. Tried it once and it was
"OK"; but don't think I will keep using this method.
Seemed to produce some spots on the two IH's I tried it
on.

all have a good un....
SHERMANVILLE

[gold fish]

I used regular cheapy idaho russets

[cosmic]

I was making dinner and had a thought... Yes instant potato works great also!!!