How to Cleanse Crystals
Selenite, moonlight, sunlight, smoke, sound and earth, and which stones should never touch water.
Crystals are cleansed by placing them on selenite, leaving them in moonlight, giving them brief sunlight, passing them through smoke, using sound, burying them in earth, or, for hard stones only, rinsing them in water. This guide covers all seven methods and which stones need particular care.
Why Cleanse a Crystal at All
The idea behind cleansing is simple: stones are said to hold on to what they're exposed to, and clearing them periodically lets them start again. Whether you hold that as literal or as ritual, the act itself, taking a moment with something you value, has its own worth.
Selenite
Place stones on or beside a selenite plate or wand. Selenite is said to cleanse without needing cleansing itself, which makes it the easiest method by far, and the one we'd point a beginner to first.
Moonlight
Leave stones on a windowsill overnight, especially around a full moon. Safe for every stone, with no exceptions, which makes it the second easiest method to reach for.
Sunlight
A few hours in daylight works for most stones. Some fade in direct sun over time, amethyst, rose quartz, fluorite, celestite, citrine and smoky quartz among them, so keep it brief for those specifically.
Smoke
Passing stones through the smoke of Palo Santo, incense or dried herbs.
Sound
A singing bowl, a bell, or a tuning fork. Sound is said to move through everything in the room at once, which is part of why it's often used to clear a space rather than a single stone.
Earth
Burying a stone in soil for a day. Slower and older than the other methods, and rarely done, but some people swear by it.
Water
The one to be careful with. It's fine for hard stones like quartz, but soft or porous stones, selenite, malachite, angelite, kyanite, celestite, can be damaged, and some should never touch water at all. When in doubt, choose another method from this list.
How Often
How often is entirely up to you. Some people cleanse on the new moon, some after a hard week, some when a stone simply feels like it needs it. There's no wrong frequency.
How to Cleanse Crystals, Answered
How do you cleanse crystals?
Place them on selenite, leave them in moonlight overnight, give them brief sunlight, pass them through smoke, use sound, or bury them in earth. Water is safe only for hard stones such as quartz.
Which crystals are unsafe in water?
Selenite dissolves. Malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, pyrite, galena and cinnabar can release harmful substances. Angelite, kyanite and celestite can be damaged.
How often should you cleanse crystals?
No fixed rule. Some cleanse on the new moon, some after a hard week, some whenever it feels needed.
Which crystals fade in sunlight?
Amethyst, rose quartz, fluorite, celestite, citrine and smoky quartz. Keep sun exposure brief.