nope,we don't clean our finds,our group instructor friend frank told us never to clean them,he gave us some sort of a cloth to wipe off the dirt is all,i'm about to list a bunch more rings and coins,they are a mess.my dad used to metal detect way back when the garrett detectors 1st came out,god rest his soul,he gave me some treasure maps,some things we dig up aren't in the dirt:-)some things are buried in jars and boxes and lockets! and even in tins! its fun and amazing but my nails are a mess! so are my cuticles,but its worth it.