How to Clean Dirty Dollar Bills

Restore your dollar bills to mint condition with a quick scrubbing.

Think of how many times you use dollar bills to pay a store clerk. The clerk then gives change to another customer, using those same bills. The customer uses the bills to pay the babysitter. The babysitter deposits the cash in the bank. Finally, the bank gives them to a customer making a withdrawal. Dollar bills are often dirty -- so dirty that sometimes they need cleaning. Fortunately, paper dollar bills are made from 25 percent linen and 75 percent cotton paper, making them durable for washing.

Things You'll Need

• Mild hand soap
• Soft-bristled toothbrush
• Paper towels
• String
• Paper clips

Instructions

1. Lay your dollar bills flat on a piece of paper towel. Don't worry if they don't remain perfectly flat, the water will straighten the fibers.

2. Run the dollar bills briefly under warm water. Moisture on the surface enables soap absorption.

3. Apply a pea-sized drop of gentle hand soap to the tip of a soft-bristled toothbrush. Gently brush the surface of the dollar bills with the soapy toothbrush. Start in the middle of the bill and work your way outward, to avoid ripping the edges.

4. Flip the dollar bill over and repeat scrubbing on the other side.

5. Rinse both sides of the dollar bills under warm water and pat dry with clean paper towels.

6. Paper clip your damp bills to a taunt string as you would clothing on a laundry line.

Tips & Warnings

• Blow-dry your dollar bills with a hairdryer if you want them to dry quickly.

• Avoid using hot water or running your dollar bills through the washing machine. The cycle of a washer causes premature wear and ripping. Hot water can make the ink run on newly minted dollar bills.

References

• Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Fun Facts About Money
• The National Institute of Environmental Health Services: Understanding the Design and Symbolism of the U.S. One Dollar Bill