Cleansing and Charging Crystals: The Complete Guide

Why should you cleanse crystals?

Gemstones and crystals absorb energy – from you, from others, and from the environment. Over time, they can become 'full' with stored energy, making them less effective. Regular cleansing ensures your crystals remain fresh, clear, and powerful. Think of it as charging a battery.

How often should you cleanse crystals?

There's no fixed rule, but a good guideline is: always cleanse a new stone immediately after purchase, cleanse stones you wear or use daily weekly, and cleanse stones you use less frequently monthly or after intensive use. Also, trust your intuition – if a stone feels 'heavy' or dull, it's time to cleanse it.

Methods for cleansing crystals

Running water
Hold the stone under cold running water for 1-2 minutes and visualize all stored energy washing away. Note: not all stones are water-resistant. Avoid water for selenite, malachite, pyrite, halite, and other soft or porous stones.

Moonlight
Place your crystals outside or on a windowsill during a full moon. The moonlight cleanses and charges them simultaneously. This is one of the gentlest and most universal methods – suitable for almost all stones.

Selenite
Place your crystals on a selenite plate or wand. Selenite cleanses itself and cleanses other stones placed on it. Ideal for daily use and for stones that cannot be exposed to water.

Our selenite charging bowls:
– Selenite Heart Charging Bowl
– Selenite Moon Charging Bowl
– Zodiac Wheel Selenite Charging Disk
– Selenite Charging Disk with Mandala

Incense or sage (smudging)
Pass your stone through the smoke of burning incense or white sage. The smoke neutralizes negative energy. Ensure good ventilation.

Popular choices:
– White Sage Incense
– Palo Santo sticks
– Palo Santo cleansing set

Earth
Bury your stone in the earth (or in a pot of soil) for 24 hours. The earth absorbs all stored energy and restores the stone's original power. Ideal for stones you have used intensively.

Salt
Place the stone in a bowl of dry sea salt or Himalayan salt overnight. Do not use water with this method. Note: salt can damage soft or polished stones – use it only for hard stones such as quartz.

How to charge crystals?

Cleansing and charging are two different steps. After cleansing, you infuse the stone with new energy. This can be done via:
– Sunlight – powerful, but not for all stones (amethyst and rose quartz can fade)
– Moonlight – gentle and universal, ideal during a full moon
– Intention – hold the stone in your hands, breathe deeply, and set an intention
– Selenite – place your stones on a selenite charging bowl for continuous cleansing and charging
– Clear quartz cluster – place stones on or next to a clear quartz cluster for an energy boost

Which stones are not water-resistant?

Avoid water for: selenite – dissolves in water, malachite – toxic in water, pyrite – rusts, halite/rock salt – dissolves, angelite, celestite, and calcite – porous and fragile.

Discover our collection

Looking for the right crystals for your ritual? Check out our collections for relaxation, protection & grounding, energy, and more. All stones are carefully selected for quality and origin.

Would you like to delve deeper into charging gemstones and their meaning? Also read: Charging gemstones: why it's important and how to do it.