Before you start
- Make sure lamps are completely cool.
- Wipe out as much leftover oil or ghee as possible with tissue.
- Keep the glass chimney of an akhand diya aside to wash separately.
Removing sticky oil and ghee
- Fill a bowl with hot water and a squeeze of dish soap.
- Soak the diya for 10–15 minutes.
- Scrub with a soft brush or sponge, especially the wick area.
- Repeat if the oil is old and sticky; a spoon of baking soda helps.
Removing black soot
Soot from wicks sits on the lip of the diya. After soaking, rub with a paste of baking soda and a little water, or with lemon and salt. A soft toothbrush reaches grooves without scratching.
Removing candle wax
- Put the item in the freezer for 30 minutes; hardened wax often lifts off in one piece.
- Or pour hot (not boiling) water over it to soften the wax and wipe it away.
- Never scrape with a knife; it scratches the brass.
Polishing and drying
Once clean, polish with lemon and salt, tamarind or a brass powder, rinse, and dry immediately with a soft cloth. Leave items in the air for a few minutes so moisture in grooves evaporates. Full methods are in our brass idol cleaning guide.
A pre-festival cleaning routine
- Collect all brass items from the mandir in a tray.
- Soak diyas and lamps first; they need the most time.
- Polish idols and bells while the diyas soak.
- Scrub, rinse and polish diyas last.
- Dry everything on a towel in the air for 30 minutes.
- Clean the mandir shelf and put a fresh cloth before returning items.
Bells, kalash and aarti thalis
- Bell (ghanti): clean the outside and the clapper; dry inside the bell.
- Kalash and lota: rinse water vessels daily; polish weekly if used for water.
- Aarti thali: wipe off kumkum and turmeric the same day; they stain.
Shop our brass akhand diya and other brass pooja items.
