1. ARAVIND EYE CARE SYSTEM Aravind Eye Hospital & Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology ARAVIND EYE CARE SYSTEM Aravind Eye Hospital & Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology DEPARTMENT OF HOUSE KEEPING Cleaning of brass items

2. Equipment and supplies:  Cloth  Brasso- brass polish  Cup  Toothbrush  Cleaning liquid  Scrubber  Polythene paper CLEANING AND POLISHING BRASS

3. Where are brass articles used?  Brass articles are used to decorate the rooms  It becomes dull and tarnished due to chemical changes  Hence they need to be polished once a week  It should be cleaned with utmost care using brasso  When cleaned, the article should shine like new

4.   The kuthuvizhakku (brass lamp) and its stand are used as decorative pieces in the reception and as puja lamps in the meditation room in some hospitals   Large and small brass articles are used as decorative pieces in the reception area of hospitals   Flowerpots are placed inside large brass vessels Cont…. Brass articles in the hospital

5.  Brass flower vases, plates, “kumkum” container, and small idols also adorn the meditation room  Brass flower vases are in rooms such as the dining hall  Some nameplates are also made of brass

6. 1.The kuthuvizhakku  Remove the oil in the kuthuvizhakku  Dismantle the lamp and place its parts in a line  Scrub all parts of the lamp using the cleaning liquid  Use the tooth brush to scrub the corners and any engraved figures on the lamp  Fold the cloth into 4 to 8 folds, wipe all parts of the lamp to remove the dirt Cont… Method of polishing brass articles

7.   Wipe the lamp dry using a clean cloth   Take the required quantity of Brasso in a cup   Dipping a clean cloth into the Brasso liquid, wipe the lamp starting at the bottom and working your way to the top   Let the liquid soak into the lamp for 5-10 minutes Cont….

8.   Wipe the lamp by rubbing it vigorously. Repeat the wiping process three times, each time using a clean cloth   Assemble the polished and shining lamp   Holding the lamp at the top, very carefully remove any finger marks on the polished surface with a dry cloth   Holding it with a clean duster or paper so as to avoid finger marks, lift and put it back in its place

9. 2. Immovable and heavy brass articles  Brass items that are heavy and cannot be moved should be polished in its place as the procedure followed for Kuthuvizhakku 3. Brass plates / Name plates / Idols  The brasso and dirt runs into the crevices and grooves of brass articles, follow the same procedure as above and remove the dirt and excess brasso with a tooth brush

10. 4. Brass flower vase  After the brasso is applied to a vase, wipe vertically from top to bottom  When wiping it the second time, wipe horizontally, starting at the bottom  The third wipe is for removing any remaining fingerprints

11. 5. Brass vessel A few more steps are required to clean a brass vessel  Wash the inside and outside of the vessel with the cleaning liquid  Wipe the vessel dry (on the outside) with a clean cloth  Apply brasso on the outside and let is soak in for 5-10 minutes  Polish it uniformly  Remove any finger marks in the final polish Cont…

12.  If a potted plant has to be placed inside the vessel, spread a polythene paper inside.  Then place some bricks on the polythene paper, and place the pot carefully on the bricks  If water is used in a vessel, scrub the inside everyday with the cleaning liquid and a nylon brush  Wipe the outside with a dry cloth to prevent moss formation  Avoid spilling water on the polished surface