Rules question.

If the loose impediments are on your line of putt then it is a penalty. (you can wipe them away with your hand providing your on the green but not with your putter).
As you are not allowed to touch the grass with your putter on the line of the putt. You often see players walking up the line of the putt and rehearsing the stroke or pointing the putter to the intended break, but they never touch the grass with the putter or its a penlty.

Thats what I thought too 59 but if you check rule 16.1 a it states that you can remove loose impediments provided nothing is pressed down  it says nothing about your putter or your hands.

you are allowed to remove loose impediments on the green with the putter even if they are on your line.

You shouldn't have been penalised.

In future if something like this happens check with the pro before you sign your card.

I think as often happens one rule is getting confussed with another rule here, bit like Tiger really, you can not touch the line of putt atall if you where indicating the line to someone, but in the above there is no penalty for using your putter.
The rule is to stop players improving the putting line by pressing inperfections down either with a putter or by hand, over brushing with your hand on the line of the putt can be penalised, as can deliberatly walking on your line of putt!

thanks folks for clearing things up.