Is it safe to clean euro coins with Sidol?
Hi everyone,
I recently started collecting euro coins, and some of the ones I’ve found are quite dull or dirty. While looking into ways to clean them, I came across a product we already had at home: Sidol, a metal polish that claims not to scratch surfaces.
I tested it on a few coins with no numismatic value, and the results were fantastic! They now shine and reflect light as if they were brand new.
However, before cleaning the coins in my collection, I did some research online and found an Italian forum specifically discussing Sidol (which I think is an Italian product). Some users warned that coins cleaned with this product look great at first but may turn green after a year because the cleaning process removes the natural patina. This reasoning makes sense, and I’ve seen many people strongly advising against using chemical products to clean coins.
That said, I’ve also found several YouTube videos from different channels recommending Sidol without mentioning any potential long-term consequences.
Since I’m still new to collecting and not overly strict about condition, I’d love to have clean, shiny coins. But if using this product could ruin my collection in the long run, I’d rather save myself the effort of cleaning them.
I’d really appreciate your opinion on this and, if possible, would like to see photos of coins that were damaged by chemical products.
Here are the references I’ve mentioned:
The PDF of the product: https://www.portalehenkel.it/static/upload/sch/scheda-di-sicurezza-sidol.pdf
Videos showing the use of Sidol: https://youtu.be/4q6BihvuVHo?si=owHEcO03qdVLDkPA&t=245
According to the product’s PDF, the composition of Sidol is:
- %: >= 5,0 - <= 15,0
- Ingredient: Ammonium oleate
- Symbol: Xi
- Risk Phrases: R36
- EINECS No.: 208-873-1
- CAS No.: 544-60-5
Composition: 5 - 15 % Soap
Thank you in advance! Hope to share my collection soon :)