More historical value is destroyed by over-enthusiastic cleaning than by any detector setting. Knowing how to clean metal detecting finds starts with knowing when not to.
If a find might be significant — a hammered coin, a Roman bronze, anything gold or silver over 300 years old — clean nothing. Under the Treasure Act 1996 it may need reporting to the coroner within 14 days, and conservators want it untouched. Rinse off loose soil in plain water and stop there.
Gold needs almost nothing — warm water and a soft brush. It does not corrode, so what you dig is what it looked like when lost. Silver is fragile once corroded; avoid abrasives entirely. Copper and bronze develop a protective patina that should be preserved, not scrubbed away — the green surface is the object's skin. Iron is the hardest of all and is best left to a conservator.
Never use household metal polish, wire brushes, vinegar baths or electrolysis on anything you care about. They strip patina, leave permanent scratches, and can turn a reportable find into a worthless disc.
Dry finds thoroughly, keep them in acid-free containers away from damp, and label them with findspot details — that context is often worth more than the object. The full guide, including specific conservation products we stock, is on the main site.
Honest advice for your ground and budget · 01724 845608 · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · Sat 10am–12pm
Crawfords Metal Detectors is an authorised Minelab dealer and an official stockist of XP and Nokta. We test and sell the products we review.
