Lemon Juice

• The acid in lemon juice will remove tarnish from silver coins and make them shine again. Fill a glass with lemon juice and place the coins inside the juice. Check the coins periodically to see if they are coming clean. Soak them for as long as necessary, not exceeding one day's time. Wipe the coins clean with a lint-free, soft cloth and allow them to air dry.
  
  

Liquid Dishwash Soap

• Liquid dishwashing soap can remove debris from mildly dirty coins. Either squirt a bit of soap directly onto the coin and rub it clean using your fingers, or use a soft toothbrush dipped in soapy warm water to clean the coins. Lay the coins on a soft cloth to dry, allowing them to air dry by themselves. Alternately, the cloth can be used to rub the coins dry if necessary.
  
  

Petroleum Jelly

• Petroleum jelly is useful for cleaning silver coins such as nickels and quarters. Use a clean cotton swab to gently swipe the jelly on to each coin, shining it and cleaning it. The jelly can be applied to both sides of the coin and removed with an additional clean cotton swab. The coins may need to be wiped down again with a lint-free cloth.
  
  

White Vinegar

• For coins that only have a few dirty spots but are otherwise in good shape, dab some white vinegar on a toothbrush and rub the spots gently in a circular motion to remove the dirt. For dirtier silver coins, dilute vinegar with distilled water and soak the coins in the vinegar mixture until they are clean. Air dry the coins or wipe them with a soft cloth until they are dry.