Brass and copper puja items — deepam, pancha patra, bells, aarti plates — tarnish over time from contact with oils, kumkum, water, and camphor. The most effective approach is to use a dedicated metal cleaning powder such as Pitambari: apply a small amount to a damp cloth, rub gently in circular motions, then rinse off with clean water and dry immediately to avoid water marks. For items with engravings or tight recesses, a liquid cleaner such as Giri Ujjwal Copper and Brass Cleaner gives better penetration. Never use steel wool or abrasive pads on brass puja items — they will scratch the surface permanently. Giri UK stocks both Pitambari and Giri Ujjwal for this purpose.

Pitambari is a widely used Indian brass and copper cleaning powder — the name reflects the golden (pitambara) shine it restores. It is safe for use on brass, copper, and bronze puja items including kalash, pancha patra, deepam, bells, and aarti plates. It is not suitable for silver or silver-plated items (use a liquid silver cleaner for these). Apply with a damp cloth, rub gently, rinse, and dry. Pitambari should not be used on gold-plated items. Giri UK stocks Pitambari Powder in 100g and 200g individual packs and pack-of-4 multi-packs for households that clean frequently.

Silver and silver-plated puja items require gentler cleaning than brass — abrasive powders will scratch and strip the plating. Giri UK stocks Giri Silver Sparkler, a dedicated liquid silver cleaner in 100ml format, designed for use on silver-plated lamps, yantras, and puja vessels. Apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth, polish gently, then wipe clean with a dry cloth. For badly tarnished silver items, a brief soak in warm water with a small amount of silver sparkler before polishing can help. Always dry silver items completely after cleaning to prevent water spots.

For daily-use items such as the pancha patra, aarti plate, and deepam, a rinse after use and a light polish every one to two weeks prevents heavy build-up. A thorough polish using Pitambari or Giri Ujjwal should be done before major festivals (Diwali, Navratri, Karthigai Deepam), at the start of each Tamil or Hindu month (especially Karthigai and Thai months), and whenever items visibly tarnish. In UK homes, where water has higher mineral content than in India, puja metal items may tarnish faster — monthly cleaning is a practical minimum. Giri UK stocks all cleaning products for this in individual and pack-of-4 formats.

Dara Polishing Liquid is a liquid-format metal polisher suitable for brass, copper, and metal puja items. Liquid polishers are particularly useful when powder cleaners are impractical — for example on intricate carved surfaces, embossed designs, or items with tight joins where powder residue can get trapped and is difficult to rinse out fully. The 400ml format from Giri UK makes it a practical choice for households with a large collection of puja items or for temples needing to clean multiple items regularly. Dara is applied with a cloth, polished, and wiped clean, leaving a bright finish.

Giri Jagmag Shining Powder is Giri's own-brand metal polishing powder — jagmag is a Hindi/Urdu word meaning 'sparkling' or 'gleaming'. It is a general-purpose brass and metal shining powder, used in the same way as Pitambari — damp cloth application, gentle rubbing, rinse and dry — for restoring the lustre to tarnished brass deepam, bells, aarti plates, and other puja hardware. At 100g it is a compact format suited for households that polish periodically rather than frequently. Giri UK stocks Giri Jagmag Shining Powder alongside Pitambari and Giri Ujjwal to give customers a choice across formats and budgets.