8 September 2023

How to clean your medals

| Zoya Patel
Start the conversation
Hands using a toothbrush to clean a medal

It’s important to look after your medals. Photo: Supplied.

Military medals are precious symbols of service, honour and bravery, so it is important to keep them looking as good as that special day they were awarded. Not all medals are the same so taking some time to do the job will ensure your medals remain in good condition.

Louise from BrandNet explains how to clean your medals and protect them from any scratches or damage in the process:

1. Assemble your supplies. You’ll need some warm, soapy water – dishwashing liquid is perfectly fine to use. You’ll also need a soft-bristled toothbrush, and some silver/metal polish, and a silver polishing cloth (you can find these in the home cleaning section of most supermarkets).

2. Know the type of mount your medal has. Most medals will have either a swing mount, or a coat mount. In general, the mount shouldn’t effect the cleaning process. However, coat mounts may have more glue residue from mounting or repairs. If you find glue residue on your medal, you can use a sticky spot/glue dissolving agent to remove. Just apply the agent, grab a cotton bud, and gently rub the glue off.

3. Clean the entire medal. Use the toothbrush and soapy water to thoroughly wash your medal, trying to get any dust or residue out of the crevices of the design. Be thorough, but gentle, as it’s important not to scratch or damage the metal during this process.

4. Polish your medal. Using a sponge and your silver polish, gently work the product into your medal, which can be damp during this step. Make sure the sponge is a soft one without any scourer (usually a soft sponge will come with your polish).

5. Rinse and dry your medal. Now, rinse your medal under cold water, and dry it with a soft cloth to remove excess product.

6. Finally, polish with a silver cloth. Use your silver polish cloth to buff and shine your dry medal.

REGION MEDIA PARTNER CONTENT

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.