How to Clean and Care for Race Medals and Wooden Displays
Clean race medals with a soft dry cloth first, and only escalate if that fails. Most medals are plated, not solid metal — so metal polish, abrasives and ultrasonic cleaners can strip the finish permanently. Wooden displays need even less: a dry cloth, and no water.
Cleaning medals, in order of aggression
- Dry microfibre cloth. Handles dust and fingerprints, which is 90% of the problem. Do this every few months.
- Slightly damp cloth, then dry immediately. For sweat residue after a race. Never leave moisture sitting on the join between medal and ribbon.
- Mild soap on a damp cloth. Only if needed. Wipe, rinse the cloth, wipe again, dry fully.
Do not use: metal polish, baking soda, vinegar, toothpaste, ultrasonic cleaners, or anything abrasive. Race medals are usually zinc alloy with a thin plated finish — these methods remove the plating and you cannot put it back.
Ribbons
Ribbons pick up sweat and can smell over time. Spot-clean with cold water and a tiny amount of mild detergent, then air-dry flat and away from sunlight. Do not machine wash and do not tumble dry — printed ribbons crack and colours run.
If a ribbon is beyond saving, most races will not replace it. Photograph the medal with its original ribbon before replacing it.
Wooden displays
- Dry cloth only. Do not soak, do not spray cleaners.
- Indoor use. Bathrooms, garages and conservatories all cause problems — humidity swells wood, dry heat cracks it.
- Keep out of prolonged direct sunlight. This is what fades stains and engraving over years, not months.
- No furniture polish or oil unless the maker says so. Silicone-based sprays can leave a film on laser-engraved areas.
Preventing problems rather than fixing them
Most medal damage happens in storage, not on the wall:
- Medals piled in a box scratch each other. On a rail, they hang free.
- A drawer that gets warm and damp is the worst place for both metal and ribbon.
- Handling with clean dry hands avoids most tarnish in the first place.
Ironically, displaying medals properly is also the best way to preserve them.
Tarnish: when to leave it
Some patina on older medals is normal and, to many runners, part of the record. Trying to return a ten-year-old medal to factory shine usually damages it. Clean the dust; accept the age.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use silver polish on a silver medal?
Almost certainly not — race medals are rarely solid silver. Polish will cut through plating.
How do I get rid of a smell in a ribbon?
Cold spot-wash with mild detergent, air-dry flat. Persistent smell usually means the ribbon needs replacing.
Should I lacquer my medals?
No. It changes the appearance permanently and is very hard to reverse.
How often should I clean a display?
A dry dust every month or two. That is genuinely all a wooden display needs.
Give them somewhere safe to live
A wall display keeps medals apart, dry and visible — the three things that actually preserve them. Browse personalized medal hangers or read 12 ways to display race medals.
