Guide · 2 min read
How to Clean Brass Diyas and Silver Pooja Items Naturally
By the ANAGHA team, New Delhi · Updated
Quick answer
For brass, soak burnt diyas in hot water with a little dish soap to loosen the oil, then scrub with tamarind pulp or a paste of lemon juice and salt, rinse and dry. For silver, line a bowl with aluminum foil, add hot water and a spoon each of baking soda and salt, and dip the items for a few minutes; then rinse and dry with a soft cloth. Dry everything completely to slow new tarnish.
What you'll need
- Hot water and dish soap
- Tamarind pulp, or lemon and salt
- Baking soda and aluminum foil (for silver)
- An old soft toothbrush and soft cloths
Cleaning a burnt brass diya
- 1Scrape out the old wick and any hardened oil with a wooden stick.
- 2Soak the diya in hot water with a little dish soap for 15 to 20 minutes.
- 3Scrub with tamarind pulp, or a paste of lemon juice and salt, using an old toothbrush for grooves.
- 4Rinse well with warm water.
- 5Dry immediately and buff with a soft cloth. Brass left damp tarnishes quickly.
Other natural methods for brass
- Lemon and baking soda paste: rub on, leave a few minutes, rinse.
- Vinegar and salt for heavy tarnish: apply briefly, then rinse thoroughly.
- Pitambari powder, the traditional Indian brass cleaner, works well too.
- If your brass is lacquered (shiny and not tarnishing), use only mild soap and water: acids damage the lacquer.
Cleaning silver pooja items
- 1Line a bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side up.
- 2Add hot water with one spoon each of baking soda and salt.
- 3Dip the silver so it touches the foil, and leave for 2 to 5 minutes.
- 4Rinse, then dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Use gentle methods on silver-plated items: acids and abrasive pastes can wear through thin plating.
Keeping them shiny for longer
- Wipe off oil and kumkum after each puja.
- Store silver in a cotton cloth or a zip bag with a piece of chalk to absorb moisture.
- Keep brass and silver away from damp corners.
Then clean the mandir around them
Once the diyas and thali shine, wipe the mandir surfaces with a gentle cleaner sprayed onto a cloth. ANAGHA Shuddhi is made for the mandir and the space around it. It isn't a metal polish, so use the methods above for brass and silver.
Questions
How do I remove black soot from a brass diya?
Soak it in hot soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes, then scrub with tamarind pulp or a lemon-and-salt paste using an old toothbrush. Rinse and dry straight away.
Can I use vinegar on brass?
Yes, briefly, for heavy tarnish on solid brass: apply vinegar and salt, then rinse thoroughly. Don't use acids on lacquered brass.
How do I clean silver pooja items quickly?
Use the foil method: a foil-lined bowl with hot water, baking soda and salt. Dip the silver for a few minutes, then rinse and dry.
Can I use the same method on silver-plated items?
Be gentle with plated pieces. Acids and abrasive pastes can wear through thin plating, so use mild soap and water or the foil method for a short time.
