cleaning?

[rainorshine]

Just wondering if any metal detected items should be cleaned such as tokens, rings, jewelry, ect... I know coins are a no,no but what about the other stuff.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Clad coins are ok to clean as long as they are not rare or unique. Jewelry is usually ok for a warm soapy bath. Tokens if not rare or valuable can be cleaned. You just have to ask here or look them up to see if they are valuable first.

 

[cudamark]

Even cleaning older coins in not always a no-no. If they have no collector value, cleaning them is fine. Use soap and water just enough to see type, year, mint mark, and potential condition before deciding. Common date Roosevelt dimes for instance are only worth their silver value. Same with common date wheats. Tumble them if you like.....it won't change their value any. Good jewelry will need to be cleaned to have any value and they're usually not damaged by doing so. Soap and water is a good start. Electrostatic cleaners work good too. Silver dips like Jeweluster work great on sterling. Costume jewelry might be damaged by cleaning.....but who cares? Unless it some rare designer stuff. Clean just enough to I.D., then decide after doing your research. Check out the clean and preserve section here on Tnet. Lots of other info there.

 

[Normsel]

I agree with everything cudamark says. Soapy water don't hurt anything. For the most part you will do more damage digging the coin than ever cleaning it with soapy water