1.2.17 The Lord personally cleanses the desire for material enjoyment......

Krishna Himself cleanses the anarthas

śṛṇvatāḿ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ

puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ

hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi

vidhunoti suhṛt satām

SB 1.2.17: Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.

The process of hearing itself develops piety. In SB 1.2.16 we read that after serving devotees we get a desire to hear about Krishna. This verse explains what happens next.

Srila Prabhupada mentions in the purport:
But if one is engaged in hearing the glories of the Lord, gradually he realizes his real position. By the grace of God such a devotee gets sufficient strength to defend himself from the state of disturbances, and gradually all disturbing elements are eliminated from his mind.

Specific Anarthas cause unsteady devotional service. Those are listed in the second shower of the Madhurya Kadambini and are also detailed here:

Sravanam-From the Ear to the(cleansing of the) Heart

1. utsaha mayi - enthusiasm indicating pride thinkin that they unlike others have already mastered everything
2. ghana-tarala: moving unsteadily between diligence and negligence
3. vyudh- vikalpa: flickering determination
4. visaya - sangara: an ongoing struggle with sense pleasure
5. niyamaksama : inability to improve devotional practices
6. taranga rangini: delighting in material facilities that bhakti produces

But Krishna is so kind that if a devotee takes to the process of hearing and develops a strong urge to hear His message, He himself cleanses the desire for material enjoyment.

This gives me great hope as even after some years in devotional service I have not been able to overcome any of my anarthas. When I read this verse I feel very hopeful that if I just hear sincerely Krishna will remove all the abhadrani's from my heart and help me fully express my dormant love towards Him through pure devotional service.

HG RadhaKrishna Prabhu mentioned in class that the first quality of a devotee is the desire to hear about Krishna.When eagerness to hear about Krishna is very strong remembrance is very strong. Then the false ego can be cut to pieces- the material mind can be dissolved