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Am I allowed to remove leaves or stones from a bunker before playing my shot?

{"status":"advice","headline":"NO PENALTY | You may remove loose leaves or stones in a bunker","action":"You may remove leaves and stones from the bunker before playing, as long as they are loose impediments and you do not move your ball or deliberately improve the conditions affecting your stroke beyond what the Rules allow.","rule":"Rule 15.1; Rule 8.1","rule_code":"Rule 15.1","rule_title":"Loose Impediments","rule_summary":"Under the Rules of Golf by the R&A and USGA, loose impediments may be removed anywhere on the course, including in a bunker. If your ball moves while removing them, you generally get one penalty stroke and must replace the ball, unless another Rule exception applies.","penalty_strokes":0,"situation":"Leaves and stones in a bunker before your bunker shot.","options":[{"id":"remove","text":"Remove loose leaves or stones by hand, club, towel, or other reasonable method.","penalty":0,"procedure":"Be careful not to move your ball, and do not press down, smooth, or test the sand in a way that improves your stroke conditions."},{"id":"if_ball_moves","text":"If your ball moves while removing them.","penalty":1,"procedure":"Replace the ball on its original spot before playing."}],"suggestion":"Remove only what is loose and avoid touching or smoothing the sand near your ball more than necessary.","procedure":"You can pick up or move the leaves/stones, then play the ball as it lies in the bunker.","branches":[],"clarifying_question":null,"answer_options":[],"clarifying_questions":[],"disclaimer":"Grounded in the Rules of Golf – the final ruling always belongs to the people on the course: your group, a referee, or the Committee.","rules_basis":"R_AND_A_USGA"}