Keeping your cards clean is mostly a matter of common sense. They are made of paper, so if they get sticky or dirty, wipe them with a very slightly damp cloth and then wipe them dry immediately. But when people ask about "cleansing the cards" they are not usually asking about a bit of jam or pizza sauce that dripped on their Ace of Pentacles. What they really want to know about is how to energetically cleanse the cards. When to Cleanse As with so many things tarot-related, there are no absolutes. Here are some points when some readers feel the need to cleanse or clear their cards: 1. after a very challenging reading 2. after many readings in a row 3. before using a new deck 4.