How to Cleanse Your Crystals

Cleansing Your Crystals

Crystals are beautiful, powerful tools for energy healing, but just like us, they can pick up negative energy or become overwhelmed by too much use. When you work with crystals whether you’re meditating with them, carrying them for protection, or wearing them for healing, they absorb energy from the environment around them. Over time, this can leave them feeling “cloudy” or energetically drained. That’s where cleansing comes in.

Crystals are naturally attuned to the energy around them. When you use a crystal to heal, protect, or manifest, it absorbs energy from your environment and sometimes that energy can be negative or stagnant. If a crystal picks up too much “heaviness” or negative energy, it becomes less effective. Cleansing your crystals ensures they stay in their most powerful and vibrant state. Crystals work by vibrating at certain frequencies that interact with your energy field. If a crystal is overwhelmed with dense or negative energy, it may not vibrate as effectively. Cleansing resets its natural frequency, allowing the crystal to channel its healing or protective properties at full force.

We all go through emotional or environmental shifts, and crystals pick up on these changes. A crystal might absorb the energy of stress, fear, or sadness when you’re going through a difficult period. Regular cleansing helps rid the crystal of any emotional residue that might cling to it, ensuring it’s always in the best possible state to help you.

There are several different ways to cleanse your crystals, and some are more suitable for specific types of stones. 

Water Cleansing

Water is one of the most common and effective ways to cleanse crystals. It’s a natural purifier and can help wash away any unwanted energy. You can cleanse your crystal with water by holding it under cool, running water preferably from a natural source like a stream or river. Let the water run over it for a minute or two, focusing on releasing any negativity or energy that no longer serves you. Not all crystals are water-safe! Some stones like selenite, halite, and malachite are water-soluble or may degrade when exposed to moisture. Always check if your crystal is water-safe before using this method.

Salt

Salt is well-known for its ability to absorb negative energy. This makes it an ideal tool for cleansing crystals, especially those that are very sensitive to water or sunlight. You can cleanse your crystal with salt by burying it in a bowl of sea salt for several hours or overnight to allow the salt to absorb the negativity. Alternatively, you can sprinkle salt on a flat surface and place your crystal on top, but make sure the salt doesn't touch delicate stones. If you’re using salt, be mindful of delicate crystals like copper-based stones such as turquoise or malachite, which can be harmed by salt exposure.

Smudging

Smudging is an ancient practice where you burn sacred herbs like sage, palo santo, or sweetgrass to clear energy. The smoke is believed to purify the energy around the crystal, effectively cleansing it. You can do this by lighting a bundle of sage or palo santo and allow the smoke to rise. Hold the crystal in the smoke for a few moments, visualizing the smoke clearing away any negativity and restoring the crystal’s natural vibrational frequency. Shop our smudging bundle.

Moonlight and Sunlight

Crystals are naturally attuned to cosmic energies, so using the energy of the moon or the sun is a fantastic way to recharge them. Full moons are especially powerful for cleansing because their light is at its brightest, which amplifies the energetic clearing process. Simply place your crystal outside or on a windowsill overnight, preferably during a full moon or just after the full moon, for maximum effect. If you're using sunlight, leave the crystal out for a few hours during the day. Just be mindful some crystals like amethyst or rose quartz can fade in direct sunlight over time, so keep them in a shaded spot. Full moons are great for cleansing, but if you want to recharge and energize your crystal, sunlight can be a more direct way to infuse the crystal with vibrant energy.

Sound

Sound is another powerful tool for cleansing crystals, especially when you want to clear away heavy or stagnant energy. Sound waves from singing bowls, tuning forks, or even bells help reset the energy of your crystal. You can cleanse through sound by using a singing bowl or bell near your crystal, allowing the sound to wash over it. Alternatively, you can play calming music or use a tuning fork to create a vibration that resonates with the crystal’s energy. Sound cleansing works especially well with stones like quartz, selenite, and citrine, which respond to sound vibrations.

Earth

Burying your crystal in the earth is a grounding method that allows the earth to absorb any negative energy from the stone and recharge it with natural, neutral energy. You can do this by digging a small hole in your garden or a potted plant, and bury your crystal for 24 hours. As the crystal sits in the earth, it will release any built-up negativity and reestablish its connection to the Earth’s natural energy. This method works best for grounding crystals like black tourmaline or hematite. However, avoid burying delicate crystals that might be harmed by dirt or moisture.

How often you cleanse your crystals largely depends on how often you use it and the environment it’s in. If you're using crystals for deep energy work, cleansing them once a week might be ideal. If you carry a crystal with you every day or work in an environment that is energetically draining, you may want to cleanse it more frequently. As a general rule, you should cleanse a crystal whenever it feels heavy or off. Trust your intuition if you feel like the crystal has absorbed too much energy, or if its effects seem less potent than usual, it may be time for a cleanse. Remember to slow down, have fun with it, and create a ritual with intention.