How to Cleanse Your Crystals: 6 Effective Methods

Cleansing crystals is essential to maintain their natural properties, whether you use them during spiritual practices or have them sitting around your home as ornaments. Just like people can accumulate negative energy, crystals can absorb it from both their environment and their users.

You might think of them like sponges - over time, they can become saturated with negative vibrations which reduces their effectiveness. Regular cleansing helps to restore their natural state and reset their energy so you can continue using them to support emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

If you've found that your crystals aren't "working" or want to maintain a harmonious living space, let's explore six effective methods that you can use to cleanse, reset and recharge any stone.

6 Ways to Cleanse Your Crystals:

1. Water

2. Salt

3. Smoke

4. Sound

5. Earth

6. Sun and Moonlight

Water Cleansing

As an element of Mother Nature, water is one of the simplest and most common ways of cleansing crystals. It involves rinsing them under running water to instantly wash away negative energy, returning it to the earth to be neutralised and reused - sort of like recycling!

Natural water sources like streams and rivers are ideal, but you can use tap water and visualise them being cleansed of unwanted energy. An alternative method is immersing crystals into a bowl of purified or spring water for a few minutes, up to an hour.

Water can damage softer or porous crystals like selenite, calcite and most others ending in "-ite". It can also cause chemical reactions in certain crystals if soaked for prolonged periods, including malachite and lapis lazuli. Always check that your crystal is water safe or use other methods of cleansing.

Salt Cleansing

Salt is widely recognised for its purifying properties, but the type of salt used is important. Sea and rock salt are thought to effectively absorb and neutralise negative energies, while Himalayan salt contains minerals that are beneficial for gentle cleansing. Refined table salt should be avoided as it contains additives that can damage crystals and their energies.

Options for salt cleansing include:

• Salt water bath - Using a glass bowl, dissolve a few tablespoons of salt into filtered water and soak crystals for about 30 minutes. You can also use natural seawater to harness the power of Mother Nature.

• Salt crystals - Fill a glass bowl with dry salt and place crystals on top or bury them overnight to absorb negative energy.

Crystals should be rinsed under clean running water after using salt to remove any residue. Some crystals don't react well to salt, including turquoise, opal and those that are water soluble.

Smoke Cleansing

Smoke cleansing, also known as smudging, uses the smoke from sacred herbs like sage, cedar and sweetgrass. Light the smudge stick or herb bundle and pass crystals through the smoke, ensuring all sides are exposed. Focus your intention and imagine the smoke clearing away stagnant energies.

The smoke will also cleanse the surrounding area, so it's a good idea to open a window to allow the negative energy to escape. Some find the smell of herbs overpowering, and you should ensure there are no pets or children in the room to inhale smoke.

Sound Cleansing

Sound cleansing uses the vibrations from instruments such as singing bowls, tuning forks and drums to remove unwanted energies. Soundwaves can penetrate through objects to disrupt old energy and return crystals to their natural state.

Typically, bells or the clapping of hands can be used to create a sharp sound that breaks up energy, followed by a singing bowl or music set at a specific Hertz to fill the space with positive vibrations. Simply position the crystal near to the instrument and let the soundwaves wash over it with the intention of cleansing negative energies.

Earth Cleansing

Burying crystals is a grounding method that allows them to reconnect and align with the earth's energies - their natural environment. You can dig a small hole in your garden or a flower pot, cover crystals with soil and leave for up to a week. The longer timeframe isn't necessary, but it's highly effective for removing impurities and believed to make a crystal's properties even more potent.

Rainwater further aids the cleansing process, and this method is especially good for earthy crystals with grounding and protective properties.

Sun and Moonlight Cleansing

Using sunlight and moonlight to cleanse crystals is a gentle approach - and a personal favourite of mine - that taps into the universe's abundance of natural energy. As the sun gives life to the planet, including humans, it's also great for charging crystals.

Placing them in direct sunlight for a few hours is sufficient, as prolonged exposure can cause fading. For a softer cleanse, place crystals outside or in a window during the full moon. As a general rule, sunlight amplifies power while moonlight provides intuitive cleansing.

Along with the earth, sunlight and moonlight are highly cost-effective and eco-friendly!

Summary

By exploring different cleansing methods, you can find out which approach resonates best with you and your crystals. Each method brings unique benefits to ensure that your crystals maintain their vibrant energy, supporting your wellbeing and spiritual practice. I like to cleanse my crystals in water and leave them to dry and recharge in the sunlight, as well as giving them a monthly dose of full moon magic.

What's your preferred cleansing method? Share your rituals in the comments, and don't forget to check out the Little Moon Tree crystal collection for high-quality, handpicked tumblestones.