If you want to launder your money, soap and water is best, the Bank of Canada says.
“If you want to take additional safety precautions, you can clean your polymer bank notes with a bit of soap and water since they are resistant to moisture,” bank spokeswoman Amelie Ferron-Craig said.
“Note that this is not the case for older paper bank notes.”
The bank says it has tested the notes for durability against common household products. “Repeated contact with substances such as bleach and ethanol resulted in damage that could make the notes unrecognizable as legitimate money,” Ferron-Craig said. “We therefore do not recommend using these substances to disinfect your bank notes.”
The bank said health risks posed by handling cash are the same as those from touching common surfaces such as doorknobs, kitchen counters and handrails. After handling cash, wash your hands with soap and water, the bank said.
A 2017 article in Scientific American said Canadian polymer-based bills tend to carry fewer viruses and bacteria than those made primarily from cotton, such as the U.S. greenback.
An attempt by The Canadian Press to wipe down plastic cash with the disinfectant Lysol started removing the pigment.
“We have not conducted tests with Lysol and cannot comment on its impact on bank notes,” said Ferron-Craig.
FAQs
While paper money is more fragile than coins, you can still clean your bills carefully while avoiding harsh chemicals. Wet a sponge with water and add a small amount of mild soap. Wipe down the front and back of the bill gently to avoid damaging the paper.
Can soap and water remove bleach? ›
Use dish soap.
Mix some dish soap with water. Then, take a clean cloth, dip it into the mixture, and start working on the stain from its outer edges inwards.
Does bleach affect money? ›
It is important to use a mild soap as stronger detergents may damage the money. Avoid using bleach or other harsh chemicals as they can cause discoloration or damage to the money.
Can you clean with just bleach and water? ›
“Household bleach, or chlorine bleach, can be diluted with water to disinfect surfaces, but it is not a cleaner, so you will need to pre-clean a surface with soap and water to remove dirt and debris first and let it dry completely before disinfecting with the diluted bleach,” she says.
Can vinegar remove bleach stains? ›
Remove bleach stains with white vinegar
It is recommended that you mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of alcohol, then immerse a clean cloth in this mixture. Soak the bleach stain with this cloth with vinegar, do not rub the stain as you can expand and complicate the task. Then wash the garment with cold water.
What does bleach do to money? ›
By bleaching a note with an abrasive cleaning material, the ink printed into the cotton-based paper will disappear. As a result the paper will feel thinner, the watermark will disappear and the security thread will be lost as well.
Is it okay to wash your money? ›
It is not advisable to wash all of your paper money this way, nor to clean large amounts at one time. You should only clean bills that are caked with enough dirt, grease or grime to become a possible health risk.
Will bleach clean an old coin? ›
Bleach isn't a great choice to clean coins.
Can I clean without bleach? ›
Baking soda has natural bleaching properties, making it an ideal alternative for many cleaning jobs, including: Combine with hydrogen peroxide to clean grout. As a laundry booster and water softener. To remove stains from clothing, cutting boards, and surfaces.
When not to use bleach? ›
Mixing bleach with other chemicals containing ammonia, quaternary ammonium compounds (found in other disinfectants), vinegar or other acids can create toxic gases. Bleach corrodes many metals. It should never be used on stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, marble, or granite.
Q: If you can smell bleach and other toxic chemicals, does that mean you're breathing in dangerous particles? A: Generally speaking, the correct answer is “No”.
Can you clean bleach with soap? ›
Bleach and soap don't mix! Mixing chlorine bleach and cleaners like dish soap can be harmful to your health. Mixing bleach with other cleaners can release toxic gases. Bleach can irritate your skin and eyes.
Can you remove bleach with water? ›
Rinse with cold water: Immediately rinse the stained area with cold water to flush out any remaining bleach. This can help prevent further damage and stop the bleach from continuing to react with the fabric.
Can bleach be washed out with water? ›
Bleach naturally breaks down
Bleach continues to break down during each additional rinse cycle, all while being further diluted and rinsed away as additional clean water is added during successive rinse cycles.
Will bleach come out in the wash? ›
Unfortunately, a bleach stain is permanent. Once bleach has made contact with a fabric, the stain will have set, stripping the colour or dye from the fabric. When it comes to removing bleach stains, the approach you should take is one of restoring the colour that has been lost rather than removing the stain.
