Crystal Care Guide

Cleansing & Charging Your Crystals

Crystals are believed to soak up the energy around them, so many people like to refresh them regularly: when a stone first arrives, after an emotionally heavy period, or simply once a month (full-moon nights are a popular choice). There is no single right way. Pick a method that suits both you and the stone.

Ways to cleanse

• Water rinse (about 1 minute): Hold hard, non-porous stones such as clear quartz, amethyst or tiger's eye under running water, ideally a natural stream but a tap works too, then pat them dry. Skip this for soft or water-sensitive stones like selenite, kyanite, halite, celestite and angelite.
• Salt water (a few hours, up to 2 days): Dissolve a spoonful of sea or rock salt in a bowl of water and submerge sturdy stones. Never use salt on porous or metal-bearing stones such as malachite, selenite, calcite, lepidolite, halite, angelite or pyrite.
• Dry rice (about 24 hours): Bury the stone in a bowl of uncooked rice and throw the rice away afterwards. It's a gentle option that suits any stone and is often used for protective stones like black tourmaline.
• Moonlight & morning sun (overnight): Set stones out in the evening and bring them in by mid-morning. Long hours of strong sun can fade coloured stones such as amethyst, rose quartz and citrine, and rain can damage soft ones.
• Smoke (30–60 seconds): Pass the stone through the smoke of sage, dhoop, loban or incense, preferably beside an open window.
• Sound (5–10 minutes): Ring a bell or singing bowl, or chant "Om", close to your collection. This is handy when you have many pieces.
• Cleansing stones (about 24 hours): Rest smaller crystals on a selenite plate, inside an amethyst geode or on a quartz cluster. Bowls of carnelian, clear quartz or hematite are also said to have a clearing effect.
• Breath & visualisation (under a minute): Hold the stone, focus on your intention and breathe onto it in a few short bursts, or picture bright white light washing it clean.

Setting an intention (programming)

Hold the cleansed stone in your hands or over your heart, take a few calm breaths, and say your intention silently or aloud, for example "I welcome peace into my home." Thank the stone and keep it where you will see it often.

Recharging

If a stone feels dull, recharge it under moonlight, take it outdoors to a garden or park, or surround it with energising stones such as clear quartz, selenite, carnelian or kyanite.

Crystals are spiritual and traditional aids. They are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Quick reference: which method suits which stone?

• Smoke (sambrani, loban, incense): safe for every crystal.
• Selenite plate: safe for every crystal — simply rest pieces on it overnight.
• Moonlight: safe for every crystal; full moon is traditional.
• Sunlight: avoid for amethyst, rose quartz, fluorite and other coloured quartz, which can fade.
• Water or salt: avoid for selenite, pyrite, malachite, lapis lazuli, hematite and other soft or metallic stones.

Crystal properties described here reflect traditional and spiritual beliefs. They are not medical claims, and crystals are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.