How to clean a brass vilakku

Oil comes off easily while the lamp is still warm and becomes stubborn once it sets. That one habit saves most of the work.

5 min read · updated 14 September 2026

The habit that matters most

Wipe the lamp while it is still slightly warm, after the flame has gone out. Oil residue lifts off with a dry cloth at that point. Once it cools and sets, the same residue needs soaking and scrubbing.

Doing this every time is more effective than any polish. Most of the discoloured, sticky brass lamps people ask about are simply lamps that were never wiped warm.

For tarnish: tamarind or lemon

Brass darkens as it oxidises. The traditional Tamil method removes it with acid and mild abrasion, and it works as well as anything sold in a bottle.

Soak a small ball of tamarind in warm water until it softens, then work it into a paste with a pinch of salt. Rub it over the brass with your fingers or a soft cloth, working in small circles. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry immediately with a soft cloth.

Half a lemon dipped in salt does the same job and is quicker if you have no tamarind to hand. Cut the lemon, press the cut face into salt, and rub.

Either way, rinse well. Acid left on brass will keep working and leave patchy bright spots.

For soot around the wick

Soot builds where the flame sits. A paste of baking soda and a little water, applied with an old toothbrush, lifts it without scratching. Work gently — the area around the wick hole is often the thinnest part of the casting.

If soot has baked hard, soak that section in hot water with a little dish soap for ten minutes first. Do not scrape it with metal.

What to avoid

Steel wool and green scouring pads. They will brighten brass quickly and leave permanent fine scratches that dull it faster afterwards.

Leaving it wet. Water sitting in the oil well or under the base causes exactly the staining you were cleaning off. Dry it properly, including underneath.

Harsh chemical polishes on a lacquered lamp. Some decorative brass is sold with a clear lacquer to stop tarnish — polish strips it unevenly and the lamp then tarnishes in patches. Traditional pooja brass is usually unlacquered, so this applies mainly to ornamental pieces.

Dishwashers. Never.