Cleansing a crystal is a simple ritual: you clear the stone so it feels fresh again, the way you'd open a window in a stuffy room. Many people cleanse a crystal when it's new, after a difficult day, or once a month with the full moon. Here are the six most common methods, which stones each one suits, and the few that need care.
Six ways to cleanse crystals
1. Moonlight
Set your crystals on a windowsill or outside overnight, ideally under a full moon. Moonlight is gentle and safe for nearly every stone, which makes it the easiest place to start.
2. Selenite
Lay your crystals or jewelry on a selenite wand or slab for a few hours or overnight. Selenite is traditionally said to clear other stones while needing no cleansing itself. It's ideal for jewelry, since nothing gets wet.
3. Smoke
Pass the stone slowly through the smoke of sage, palo santo or incense a few times while you hold a clear intention. Work near an open window.
4. Sound
Ring a bell, a singing bowl or a tuning fork near your crystals for a minute. Sound reaches a whole collection at once.
5. Earth
Bury a hard, tumbled stone in a pot of soil overnight to ground it. Skip this for soft, porous or delicate pieces and for jewelry.
6. Water
A quick rinse under running water works for hard stones such as clear quartz, amethyst, rose quartz, tiger's eye and obsidian. Dry them well afterward. Never soak jewelry with cord, wire or plating.
Which crystals can't go in water?
| Stone | Water? | Better method |
|---|---|---|
| Selenite | No, it dissolves and scratches easily (about 2 on the Mohs scale) | Moonlight or sound |
| Celestite | No, it's soft and its color can fade | Moonlight or selenite |
| Calcite and fluorite | Brief rinse at most; both are soft | Selenite or smoke |
| Aura quartz | Avoid; water and rubbing can wear the coating | Moonlight or sound |
| Crystal jewelry | No; cord, wire and plating don't like water | Selenite or moonlight |
| Quartz, amethyst, rose quartz, tiger's eye, obsidian | Yes, a quick rinse | Any method |
Sun is the other thing to watch. Amethyst, rose quartz, citrine and fluorite can fade in strong direct sunlight, so moonlight is the safer choice for them.
How to cleanse crystals with selenite, step by step
- Lay the selenite wand on a flat surface.
- Place your crystals or jewelry on or right beside it.
- Leave them for at least a few hours, or overnight.
- Pick each one up and set your intention for it again.
Charging and setting an intention
Cleansing clears a stone; charging fills it back up. The full moon is the traditional time to charge, and many people simply leave their crystals out on the night of the full moon to do both. Then hold the stone, breathe slowly, and say what you'd like it to help you remember. Every crystal from our shop is smudged with sage and charged in the moonlight before it ships, so it arrives ready to use.
Cleansing crystals FAQ
How often should I cleanse my crystals?
Once a month is a common rhythm, often with the full moon. Cleanse more often for stones you wear or carry every day.
Does selenite need to be cleansed?
Traditionally no; it's said to cleanse itself. Many people still set it in moonlight now and then.
Can I cleanse crystals with salt?
Dry salt in a bowl is used for hard stones, but salt water can scratch, pit or dull softer and porous stones and damages jewelry. Moonlight or selenite is the safer choice.
How do I know when a crystal needs cleansing?
Many people go by feel: the stone seems dull, heavy or "quiet". If you're unsure, cleanse it; it does no harm.
Every piece in our shop is one of a kind, and the one pictured is the one you'll receive. Each crystal is smudged with sage and charged in the moonlight before it ships.