How to Cleanse Crystals: The Ultimate Guide to 5 Powerful Methods

Oct 05, 2025Stu R

If you've ever held a crystal, you know it's more than just a beautiful stone—it's a tool that absorbs, stores, and emits energy. On its journey to you, and as you work with it, your crystal can pick up a variety of energetic imprints from its environment and the people who handle it. To keep your crystal's vibration pure and its healing properties effective, regular cleansing is not just a good idea; it's the most essential step in crystal care.

Learning how to cleanse crystals is like hitting the "reset" button. It's the practice of clearing out any old, stagnant, or negative energy the stone has accumulated, restoring it to its natural, pristine state. Before you can charge or program a crystal with your intentions, you must first give it a clean slate.

This guide will walk you through five of the most effective and accessible methods for cleansing your crystals, ensuring they are always ready to support you with their clearest and brightest energy.

1. Cleanse with Reiki & Intention

Using universal life force energy is one of the most profound and personal ways to cleanse a crystal. This method channels pure, high-vibrational energy directly through the stone, pushing out any lower frequencies and restoring it to perfect balance.

While this process is amplified for those attuned to Reiki, anyone can use this technique effectively. The power of focused, loving intention is a universal tool. If you are not Reiki attuned, the steps are the same; you will simply be directing universal energy through your own focused intention, rather than through a formal Reiki channel. It is a pure, powerful, and completely safe method for every crystal.

Time Scale: 5 - 10 minutes

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Find a Quiet Space: Sit comfortably with your crystal. Take a few deep breaths to ground and centre your energy.
Hold Your Crystal: Place the crystal you wish to cleanse in your non-dominant (receptive) hand.
Activate Energy Flow: Set the clear intention to be a channel for pure, cleansing energy for the highest good of the crystal. If you are Reiki attuned, activate the flow as you normally would.
Channel and Cleanse: Place your dominant (projective) hand over the crystal. Visualise a brilliant white light flowing from the universe, down through your crown, down your arm, and out of your palm.
The "Power Wash" Visualization: Instead of filling the crystal, see this light as a powerful jet of pure energy that flows into and through the stone. Imagine it pushing out any murky, grey, or stagnant energy. Watch as this old energy is forced out and dissolves harmlessly into the light.
Use Reiki Symbols (For Attuned Practitioners): You can draw or visualise symbols to enhance the cleanse.
- Cho Ku Rei (The Power Symbol): Use this to amplify the cleansing energy, making the "power wash" stronger and more effective.
- Sei He Ki (The Harmony Symbol): This is perfect for releasing any stored negative emotional imprints from the crystal and restoring its inner harmony.
Know When It's Done: Continue the process until you intuitively feel the crystal is clear. It might feel lighter, cooler, or simply "brighter" in your hand. Thank the energy for its assistance.

2. Cleanse with Smoke (Smudging)

This ancient practice uses the smoke from sacred herbs to clear away unwanted energy. The smoke envelops the crystal, and as it dissipates, it carries the old energy away with it.

Best for: A deep, spiritual cleanse; 100% safe for all types of crystals.
How to do it:
1. Light the tip of a smudge stick (like White Sage or Palo Santo) or some loose incense on a fire-safe dish.
2. Allow it to smoulder until it produces a steady stream of smoke.
3. Hold your crystal in one hand and carefully pass it through the smoke several times.
4. As you do, hold the intention for the smoke to absorb and carry away any energy that does not serve the crystal's highest purpose.
5. Continue for about 30-60 seconds, or until you feel the crystal's energy has shifted and feels lighter.

3. Cleanse with Sound Healing

Everything in the universe has a resonant frequency. Sound healing uses specific tones to break up stuck energy and restore a crystal to its original, harmonious state.

Best for: Cleansing many crystals at once; 100% safe for all crystals.
How to do it:
1. Place your crystals on a soft cloth near your sound source.
2. Use a tool like a Tibetan singing bowl, a tuning fork, tingshas, or even a clear-toned bell. You can also play Solfeggio frequencies or chanting tracks found online.
3. Create a sustained sound for several minutes, intending for the vibrations to wash over the crystals.
4. The powerful vibrations will cleanse the stones and the surrounding space. A session of 5-10 minutes is highly effective.

4. Cleanse with Selenite or Satin Spar

Selenite (and its fibrous form, Satin Spar) is a powerhouse cleansing crystal. It has the unique ability to cleanse and charge other stones without needing to be cleansed itself.

Best for: Effortless, continuous cleansing; perfect for beginners; 100% safe for all crystals.
How to do it:
1. Obtain a piece of Selenite, such as a charging plate, slab, wand, or bowl.
2. Simply place your other crystals directly on or next to the Selenite.
3. Leave them there for at least 4-6 hours. Many people use a Selenite plate as a permanent "parking spot" for their daily-use crystals, ensuring they are always cleansed.

5. Cleanse with Running Water

This is one of the most simple and intuitive methods, using water to physically and energetically "wash away" negativity. However, this is the only method on this list with a major safety warning.

Best for: A quick cleanse for hard, durable crystals only.
⚠️ SAFETY WARNING: WATER IS NOT SAFE FOR ALL CRYSTALS. Water can cause soft, porous, or iron-containing crystals to dissolve, crack, or rust.
- NEVER put these in water: Selenite/Satin Spar, Malachite, Kyanite, Lepidolite, Celestite, Angelite, Halite (salt-based crystals), and generally any stone ending in "-ite".
- Water-safe crystals include: Most varieties of Quartz (Clear, Rose, Amethyst, Smokey), Agate, and Jasper. When in doubt, choose a different method.
How to do it (for water-safe crystals):
1. Hold your crystal under a running tap of cool water for 1-2 minutes.
2. As the water flows over it, visualise all negativity being washed away down the drain.
3. Pat the crystal dry gently when you are finished. For those of us here in Bournemouth, a very quick rinse of a water-safe stone in the sea is also an incredibly powerful cleanse.

Conclusion: Make It Your Ritual

Learning how to cleanse crystals is the foundation of a deep and respectful relationship with your mineral collection. Whether you are drawn to the focused energy of Reiki, the sacred ritual of smoke, or the effortless power of Selenite, choose the method that resonates most with you. By regularly clearing your crystals of old energy, you ensure they are always ready to support you with their purest and most potent vibrations.

Once your crystals are energetically clean and clear, the next step is to refill them with vibrant, positive energy. Learn the next essential step in our Guide on How to Charge Crystals.

Ready to start your crystal journey or find the perfect cleansing tool? Explore our hand-picked, ethically sourced crystals, Selenite plates, and smudging herbs in our shop today.