ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Authorities in India are working to devise a way for workers to scale the Taj Mahal's delicate dome as they complete the first thorough cleaning of the World Heritage site since it was built 369 years ago.

Work on the mausoleum is almost finished, after starting in 2015. The team has been using a natural mud paste called fuller's earth to remove the yellow discolorationand bring the marble to its original brilliant white.

But the metal scaffolding used so far is too heavy and rigid for the dome said Bhuvan Vikrama, the superintending archaeologist from the Archaeological Survey of India. He said they're considering other options, including designing and constructing the special bamboo scaffolding.

Vikrama explained the rain was enough to clean most of the Taj Mahal in the past but air pollution over the last 25 years has taken its toll.