How to Cleanse and Charge Crystals: 6 Methods and When to Use Each

Two ideas sit behind this practice. Cleansing is understood as clearing what a stone has picked up; charging is understood as restoring it. Whatever your view of the mechanism, there is a practical layer that is not in dispute: several popular methods will physically damage particular stones, and it is worth knowing which.

Six methods

1. Running water

Hold the stone under cool running water for a minute, then dry it. Quick, simple, suits quartz-family stones.

Never use on: selenite and satin spar (dissolve), malachite (toxic when wet-abraded), pyrite (rusts), halite, angelite, calcite, lepidolite, kyanite, hematite (surface dulls). If in doubt about a soft or fibrous stone, choose another method.

2. Moonlight

Leave the stone out overnight, ideally on a full moon. Safe for absolutely everything, and the best default. It is the only method that will not fade, dissolve or rust anything.

3. Sunlight

An hour or two of morning sun. Energising, and useful for citrine, carnelian and sunstone.

Fades: amethyst, rose quartz, fluorite, citrine, aquamarine, kunzite, celestite, opal, turquoise. This is the single most common way people ruin a good crystal - a bracelet left on a sunny window sill for a summer will come back visibly paler.

4. Smoke

Pass the stone through the smoke of incense, dhoop, camphor or sandalwood for thirty seconds or so. Safe for every stone, and the method most consistent with Indian household practice - the same dhoop used in daily puja works perfectly well.

5. Sound

A singing bowl, bell, ghanti or chanting. Safe for everything, effective for a whole collection at once, and the fastest method for a large set.

6. Earth or salt bed

Bury the stone in earth, or rest it on a bed of dry rock salt, for 24 hours. Deeply cleansing and traditionally used for stones that have been through something heavy.

Note: use a dry salt bed with the stone resting on top - not salt water, which etches soft stones and can loosen matrix and glued settings. Do not bury anything soft or porous in damp earth.

Quick reference for difficult stones

• Selenite - no water. Smoke, sound or moonlight. Selenite also cleanses other stones placed on it.
• Pyrite - no water, no salt. Smoke or sound only.
• Malachite - no water, no salt. Smoke or moonlight.
• Amethyst and rose quartz - no direct sun. Moonlight or smoke.
• Turquoise - no water, no sun, no chemicals. Smoke or sound.
• Rudraksha - clean water is fine; no salt. See our Rudraksha care guide.

How often

• New crystals: always cleanse before first use.
• Worn daily: roughly once a fortnight.
• Used in healing or intense emotional work: after each session.
• Display pieces: monthly, or on the full moon.
• After anyone else handles them: as soon as convenient.

Setting an intention

After cleansing, most practitioners hold the stone, bring the intention clearly to mind, and state it - aloud or silently. Some add a mantra or a few minutes of quiet with the stone in the palm. The step takes a minute and is what turns a routine into a practice.

Browse crystals and puja essentials.