Question: For Oḍana-ṣaṣṭhī the unwashed cloth is used but otherwise the cloth is always washed. However, when we get dresses for our Deities, we never wash them because they will get ruined.

Jayapatākā Swami: You see they put on Lord Jagannātha the new cloth. Your Deities you may have elaborate sets. Lord Jagannātha they would just offer Him plain cloth, but that was starched cloth for the Oḍana-ṣaṣṭhī and like in some temples, they just offer a sari or a colored cloth to the Deity. In Ādi Keśava Mandir in south Tamil Nadu, they have not changed the cloth for a year. We brought a new cloth and gave it to them and they gave us the old cloth. And the old cloth I cut them out and gave them out. But the Deity of Ādi Keśava is very huge, 21 feet. So, He is like the same size as Ananta Padmanābha Swami, but not like Garbhodakaśayī Viṣṇu, He does not have Brahmā coming from His navel. So like that there are different systems in deity worship. In your altar you have very fine cloths. So you can wash them by dry cleaning or something. But you would not be using starched cloth in any case.
01-June-2021 SRI MAYAPUR DHAM, INDIA