Diwali cleaning often begins weeks in advance, including cleaning the puja room and utensils. This is essential for maintaining a sacred space.
Regular use can make puja items oily and tarnished. While commercial cleaners remove oil, they may not restore shine. A homemade powder can effectively brighten these items.
Create a red cleaning powder using common household items: salt, wheat flour, citric acid (or vinegar/lemon), detergent, and red clay (or crushed clay diyas). Soak tarnished puja utensils in hot water for 5 minutes. Apply the red powder, scrub, and rinse. This method also works for brass or copper idols.
Toothpaste: Squeeze toothpaste on a brush or the brassware item and scrub it for a minute. Wash it with water once done.
Baking Soda: Simply mix baking soda with juice from half a lemon and scrub the idol with it.
Brass Utensil Cleaning
Tamarind:
Tamarind paste can also clean puja utensils. Its acidic nature helps remove dirt and tarnish. Apply the paste, scrub, and rinse for shiny results.
Pitambari:
For an easy way to clean your pooja vessels, try using Pitambari, a cleaning powder available in stores across India. This product is simple to use and leaves your pooja items with a lasting shine. The cleaning agents in the powder effectively eliminate oiliness and other stains. Just sprinkle the powder on your brass pooja items and scrub with a metal scrubber for the best results.