Cleansing Crystals 

Why Should You Cleanse Your Crystals?

➤ By Liz Oakes

Cleansing crystals regularly is necessary as they will absorb negative energy and this is why it is a good idea to purify them on a regular basis. 

So check out the list below with my tips to help you to remove negativity from your crystals.

To change the negative energy within your crystals to positive energy, you need to cleanse them frequently.

This is particularly important if they are being used a lot or are located where you spend time.

Cleansing Crystals

This is important as their effectiveness for healing may be affected by negative vibrations within them.

It is likely that your crystals may absorb vibrations not only from you, but from anything in the environment where they are located.

If you have been using them to heal health issues or when you were in a negative frame of mind, they would probably have absorbed your negative energy.


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Remove Negative Energy: See Ways For Cleansing Crystals

If you have been thinking about why you should cleanse your crystals, and you use them regularly, understand that your crystals are tools to enhance your life.

You need these tools to be at the highest vibration possible. This way you receive the most benefit from using them.

It is simply a matter of learning about the methods to clean your stones. Cleanse them on a regular basis to keep them full of positive energy.

Many people go to great lengths to clean their home, their clothes and themselves, yet neglect to remove the negativity from the crystals they are using. It is easy to do, simply learn how!

List Of Top Methods To Cleanse Your Healing Crystals

See the list of the top safe ways to cleanse crystals, healing stones or gemstone jewelry.

There are a number of methods that can both cleanse and energize crystals. it may also be beneficial to learn how to charge crystals too.

The following is a list of safe and easy methods, and all are discussed in more detail below.

You can combine various ideas to help you to boost the energy of your healing crystals by removing negative energy and boosting positive vibrations in them:

  • Smudge crystals with sage
  • Cleanse with moonlight and with sunlight: note take care with putting colored crystals in the sun.
  • Generate Spiritual white light or reiki energy
  • Place on a bowl of raw uncooked rice
  • Cleaning with water: a method only used if you know if the stone is safe to immerse in water
  • Bury stones or crystals in the earth
  • Using sound to cleanse and activate your crystals

Methods to charge crystals that are also good ways to boost their energy and help to fill them with positive vibrations:

  • Place On Top Of A Quartz Cluster
  • Charge on a Selenite slab
  • Charge your crystals with moonlight or with sunlight
  • Use sound from a Crystal Singing Bowl or Tibetan Singing Bowl
  • Use Tingsha Hand Cymbals also called Tibetan Chimes
  • Learn to program crystals. Can be used to self cleanse as well as to charge your crystals and is an excellent method to boost quartz crystals.

In addition to this article on ways to cleanse crystals, there is another article outlining the ways to charge your crystals here!

FAQ's On Cleansing Crystals

Someone asked me recently how often do I need to cleanse my crystals?

The answer is twofold. If you use a specific crystal a lot, and this includes stones you wear, they will need to be cleansed frequently.

This might mean you cleanse them once a week if they get heavy use, meaning every day, or for medium use cleanse them every couple of weeks.

For those stones that are not used much, cleanse them every few months, or if you take them out to use after a period of non-use, then quickly send white light using intention to refresh them.

Another question that I was asked was how do I know if it is cleansed?

The point of cleansing crystals is to remove negative energy that may have built up. So ask yourself how does it feel before and after.

Most people find that using methods such as sage to cleanse them, or white light and intention will work quickly to lift their energy.

If the stone still feel like it needs more help, you may also need to re-charge it's energy. There is another article about charging your crystals which will tell you more.

Smudging Crystals

Cleansing crystals by smudging them is easy. So how do you smudge crystals? The most potent smudge to use is white sage.

It is possible to buy smudge sticks ready made in a smudging stick or you can use loose sage leaf.

It is easy to buy in most places, and the smudge sticks are made up of either white sage alone or mixed with lavender. Some may have other fragrant herbs in them as well.

Sage for SmudgingUse White Sage To Smudge Crystals

Some of these may also have healing attributes that could benefit you.

Sage smoke is powerful to cleanse both your stones and the environment where they live. You can do this one of two ways.

You can hold the stones close to the stream of the smoke, or simply hold your smudge stick near to where they are sitting so the air around them is full of the sage essence.

Use a fire-proof ceramic bowl to hold the smoking sage, to avoid accidents.

This is the method most alchemical healers use, to quickly cleanse their stones and crystal wands after use on clients.

Cleansing Crystals With Moonlight or Sunshine!

I have included moonlight in this section as it could be said that it is related to cleansing crystals.

The effect of moonlight has a powerful influence that will re-energize your crystals, and allow them to lift their vibration naturally.

The vibration of the moon may will fill them with positive energy. It is of value to cleanse your crystals regularly and many people like to do them once a month.

A good time for cleansing crystals is at the time of the full moon, and the good thing about using this is that it is easy to remember as the full moon is easy to see in the sky.

It is beneficial to put them out when it is at its brightest, and its energy is strongest. If you wish you can combine the use of moonlight charging with other methods for cleansing crystals.

Cleansing Selenite

Your stones will be more vibrant and potent next time you use them.

It can be an added advantage if you are able to place them somewhere in your home where they will be in the moonlight for as long as possible.

Leave them there overnight if you are able to. By absorbing the energy of moonlight, you will allow their vibration to naturally lift.

Be wary of placing them where they will also get strong sunlight on them for a long time, as this can fade their color.

Note: Sunlight can be used to both cleanse your crystals and to boost a stones energy. But don't leave them out in the sun for more than an hour or two.

While losing their color may not have affect their vibration, you may feel disappointed if they are no longer the color they were when you purchased them.

White or clear crystals can be safely cleansed in the sun, and this is a good way to cleanse White Selenite, as it both charges its energy and removes negative vibrations.

Yes I know Selenite is said to never need cleansing, but I cleanse it anyway!

Breath & White Light For Cleansing Crystals

There are different methods for cleansing natural crystals of various types. Using white light is a powerful method once you know how to create it.

Most of you have the capacity to create white light, and this may also be called universal light.

The first time you do it, close your eyes and ask the universe or spirit, or whatever you believe in to be the creator, to create white light.

This is similar to the power of prayer. Imagine your body filling with the light, then feel the added energy that you have within you.

Open your eyes and direct the white light. Use your hands in a small sweeping motion towards where you want to direct the white light.

For smaller crystals: the use of your breath will also help. Use the same principle, and feel spiritual energy filling your body then gently breathe on the stone. 

White light is the easiest and most effective method to remove any built up negative energy quickly.

Along with white light you can also use reiki energy for this purpose, if you have been attuned to reiki, as it also works well.

Ask the universe to use the white light to transmute any negative energy within the stone into positive energy.

You can also use it to improve the energy of the room and to bring healing.

Not only can this method be used for cleansing crystals, the white light can also be used on yourself to bring your vibration up. 

I like to cleanse my personal stones fairly often, and this is especially important if you are doing a daily meditation with crystals and using them. 

Using Rice To Cleanse Your Crystals

You can use any type of rice, either white or brown rice is okay for cleansing crystals, and it is quite easy to do.

You can use rice cleansing if you are wary of using water or sage, and this may be especially useful if you have a stone that is very precious to you.

Using Rice To Cleanse Your CrystalsUse Rice To Cleanse Your Crystals

Simply place your stones on top of the rice and leave overnight. This method is very easy and simple, and you can do it easily.

The rice will absorb negative energy, so you will need to throw it out after using it.

It is advantageous to use a fairly flat bowl, and depending on the stone sometimes you may choose to cover it with rice.

Alternatively, simply place it on top as shown in the photo. Use your intuition to decide what is best for that stone.

Cleansing Crystals Using Water

Cleaning your crystals with water is not recommended unless you definitely know about whether your stone is safe to cleanse this way. 

If you are cleaning quartz crystals, generally this will be safe. But please take care when using water on large clusters, as they may still be harmed by water, so do it with care.

Cleansing Crystals Using Water

If you do not know much about crystals, avoid using water to clean them.

Some crystals may be totally ruined by contact with water, so use other methods of cleansing crystals unless you are absolutely sure.

I may use running water for cleansing crystals that I have been wearing as having them on your body can reduce their energy levels, as they have given so much to you during the day.

You may have noticed that I don't recommend cleansing crystals with salt or with salt water.

I know a lot of people swear by this method, but personally I ruined quite a few crystals by taking someone's advice when first using crystals.

Salt is quite abrasive, so I don't recommend using this method.

It is up to you to use this method if it pleases you, but I must warn you that a lovely crystal may not be so lovely afterwards, so do it with care!

Cleaning Quartz Crystals

Cleaning Quartz crystals is easier than other types of natural crystals as they like water. To clean quartz crystals any or all of the above methods may additionally be used.

You can clean quartz crystal using running water or in a container of water.

Important Point: If you are not sure if the crystal is a quartz crystal do not use water.

For example, Selenite Crystals may become distorted from water, and will lose their shine or may become badly damaged in some other way.

Other crystals may react to water and be totally ruined. Check before you use water if the stone can be cleaned in this way.

If you are not sure don't use this water. Some sellers of stones coat the stone with a sealant that may come off in water, so be aware that this can happen.

As quartz crystals are highly programmable, while cleansing it you might tell it to release and let go of any negativity within it.

By programming it to release negativity, it will aid other crystals nearby to stay cleaner and may not need cleansing as frequently, see more below.

Program Your Crystals To Self Cleanse

While quartz is extremely easy to program, any stone can be programmed to self cleanse. This is helpful if you have a large collection that is hard to constantly get to, to cleanse.

Check out my page about how to program your crystals if you are not sure how to do it.

On the page about programming stones I talk about placing an affirmation within the stone.

While you can choose any affirmation that suits you, a possible affirmation could be something like the following:

I constantly release any negative energy to ensure my vibration is always the highest it can be.

You may still want to cleanse programmed stones but it is not necessary as often once they are programmed.

Do Some Crystals Never Need Cleansing?

Some people say that some crystals never need cleansing, like Kyanite, Citrine or Selenite, butI do not think that this is correct, so I cleanse them anyway.

They like being refreshed and this is a helpful thing to do and it won't hurt them as long as you choose a safe method.

If you are doing Quartz Crystal Healing, ensure that all of your crystals are cleansed regularly, to ensure the vibrations within the stones are most effective.

Regular smudging of your crystals will revitalize them and lift their vibration.

It is also a good practice to put your crystals out in the moonlight, around the time of the full moon (when you have time) when it is at its brightest, to boost their energy.

As a general rule cleansing crystals is necessary, even if you may not feel that your crystals have any reason to be cleaned.

Cleansing crystals regularly ensures they will be at their best to assist you as you use them in your life. Keep them at their best and you will enjoy using your stones!

Cleansing Crystals: Burying Stones

You may also choose to bury your stone in the earth, but again make sure that you know if the stone is one that can take water, in case rain seeps through to where they are located.

An advantageous way to use soil is to put it in a pot, and place the pot somewhere that is not in the weather, so water cannot reach the buried crystals.

This may be a good way to cleanse many stones, but if you put them outside in the garden, do mark the spot where you have buried them so that you can find them again!

Crystal Singing Bowls Cleanse & Activate Crystals With Sound

Using sound is a really easy way to both cleanse and activate your crystals. I have a crystal singing bowl, a rather large one that resonates to the vibration of the sacral chakra.

A crystal singing bowl may be used to cleanse your crystals. There are two ways to do this.

If the stones are small you may put them into the crystal singing bowl. For bigger items, place them close to the bowl, then play the bowl for a few minutes.

The lovely crystal bowl music is very powerful for cleansing crystals and the sounds emitted by the bowl will resonate throughout the room activating any stones in the area.

TingshaTingsha

It is excellent to use, but is quite big so is harder to move from room to room. So I also use my Tibetan Singing bowl or my Tingsha hand cymbals which are both  smaller and easier to move from room to room.

As the strong vibration of the pure crystalline sound of your crystal singing bowl fills the crystals, it will drive out any negative energy as will the music from the cymbals.

Best Way To Use It? Crystal Tip: When you use a crystal bowl, Tingsha Hand Cymbals or a Tibetan Singing Bowl in an area, they have an energy that resonates quite a distance.

Simply place the crystals nearby, and play the bowl or cymbals, or both one after the other if you have both. This will help all of the crystals located in the area.

Benefits Of Using Selenite

Check out the lovely slab of Selenite below. Using this crystal is a way you can charge your crystals and stones as these high vibration crystals work well to energize them once they have been cleansed.

But do also cleanse the Selenite regularly, as I believe that it may absorb negativity from the stones places on it. 

Some people say Selenite is self cleansing but cleanse it anyway!

Selenite slabSelenite slab for charging your crystals

Have you have just bought a new crystal? It is beneficial to cleanse and energize all new crystals.

This is especially valuable if you are unsure of where they have been and if they have absorbed negativity or need added positive energy.

Cleanse them even if the person who sold it to you says its been cleansed. Stones sent to you in the mail should always be cleansed.

Note: some sellers program crystals before sending them. If you are not sure that you'd be comfortable with a program put in by someone else, take it out, and put in your own.

See instructions about How To Deprogram Crystals in this article.

Finding Information On This Site

If you'd like to find out if I have written about something in particular on this website or if you are looking for information on a specific stone, you can find more information on the site-map page (link below).

The site map page lists the names of specific in-depth articles about individual crystals and stones.

There are also pages listed that are related to specific problems you need help with (such as crystals for weight loss and crystals to help sleep for example).

As well you will see the pages listed that have information about particular psychic gifts and crystals that might be used to boost these abilities.

You may also see pages about aiding other issues you might need help with, in fact almost anything that is written about here can be found this way.

I say almost, because sometimes I forget to add new pages there!

You can also check on the list of A-Z pages to see individual pages in alpha order that contain properties of crystals that have not yet had their own page written.

Enjoy learning more! Liz

Learn Ways to Cleanse CrystalsLearn Ways to Cleanse Crystals

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Looking for information about a specific crystal?

To See The A-Z of Crystals Minerals and Stones Click Here


Note: When you use the vibration of crystals to help and support your healing remember that crystals are part of an holistic approach to your health.

Metaphysical healing uses universal energy so does not stand alone and can be used with any other type of healing. 

Using the energy of crystals for healing yourself is about finding a way to enhance conventional medicine not replace it. So always seek out medical treatment for any worrying health issue.


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