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Person Tries Putting Bank Notes In Washing Machine To Remove Coronavirus Traces

Person Tries Putting Bank Notes In Washing Machine To Remove Coronavirus Traces

It did not work

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Over the past few months we have been told to wash our hands and wipe down surfaces to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Now, that's all sound advice. However, one person in South Korea took the guidance to extreme lengths when they put their bank notes in a washing machine to remove any trace of the deadly disease.

Needless to say, it did not work. And not only did it not work, it also scorched their money, with the Bank of Korea saying the folly saw 'a considerable' amount of dosh lost.

The hapless individual, identified by their family name Eom, from Ansan city, near Seoul, put a bundle of 50,000-won ($42/£32) notes into their washing machine and many of them were badly damaged.

But it's not all bad news. The person then contacted the Bank of Korea to check whether or not they could be exchanged for new bills. And they could!

The person was able to get some of their money exchanged.
Bank of Korea

They were given new currency totaling around 23 million won ($19,320/£14,747), the bank confirmed.

Bank official Seo Jee Woun said they were able to exchange 507 of the 50,000-won bills at half value - the rest was too damaged to be exchanged.

According to the bank, the money was a gift of condolence from relatives, friends and others during a family funeral.

The Bank of Korea has urged people not to follow in their footsteps and avoid placing bills in a washing machine.

Earlier this year, the People's Bank of China announced that deep cleaning and destroying of potentially infected cash would be taking place in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).

Another woman microwaved some Chinese bank notes to ensure they were free of Covid-19.
PA

It came after one woman in eastern China tried to save the banks a job by charring over 3,000 Chinese Yuan RMB (£365/$420) after cooking them in the microwave.

The woman, who lives in the Jiangsu Province, started to smell burning in less than a minute - realising the money she was using to pay her bills was cooking.

According to TVBS, the notes were too charred to be used at all after the woman rushed to the bank.

But it seems that, after a member of staff at the bank spent an entire afternoon counting the cash, the lady was able to have her notes replaced.

Featured Image Credit: Bank of Korea

Topics: World News, Coronavirus