Beginners’ Guide to Crystals: Part 8 – Cleansing and Recharging Crystals

by Glace Crystals February 28, 2022

As you embark on your fruitful crystal journey and learn how to use them to bring more positivity into your life, it is also essential to note that crystals require cleansing and recharging. This is because when we work with our crystals, they absorb negative energies while creating positive ones. As such, to remain effective, it is pertinent that these negative energies they have previously absorbed be cleansed.

Additionally, when crystals are cleansed, their healing capabilities are revitalised, which allows us to continue working with them in our healing journey.

Cleansing Tools for Crystals

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When to Cleanse Crystals and How Often

As a rule of thumb, you would need to cleanse your crystals when you feel that they have become duller. They could also feel heavier due to the energies they have absorbed. As such, determining how often you should cleanse your crystals depends on how often you work with them.

A general principle would be to cleanse your crystals at least once every month. When you use crystals for “heavy-lifting” of negative energies, they should be cleansed more often (eg. bi-weekly, weekly, or even every few days). Meanwhile, crystals which are less worked with do not have to be cleansed as much (ie. cleansed once a month).

Basic Methods to Cleanse Crystal

1. Natural Light

Hematite Quartz under the Sunlight

Using the energies from the sunlight or moonlight allow the crystals to be cleansed and recharged effectively.

General guideline for better effectiveness:

Place crystals under the natural light for at least 4 hours.
Place crystals on earth (soil) while under natural light;
Place crystals under a cloudless day or during a full moon

However, some crystals can turn brittle and even lose their colour under sunlight. Avoid cleansing these crystals with this method (this is a non-exhaustive list):

Amethyst
Apatite
Apophyllite
Aquamarine
Aventurine
Calcite
Celestite
Citrine
Clear Quartz.
Fluorite
Kunzite
Opal
Rose Quartz
Sapphire
Spirit Quartz
Smoky Quartz
Super Seven
Topaz
Turquoise
Vivianite

2. Palo Santo

Palo Santo Sticks from Peru

It is said when the smoke of the palo santo passes the crystals, it carries with it the negative energies absorbed by the crystals, allowing the crystals to return to their original vibrational frequencies.

Ignite the tip of the palo santo and let its smoke pass your crystals for about 30-60 seconds. This method is suitable for all types of crystals.

Click here to purchase our Palo Santo Sticks

3. Water

This method is believed to neutralise the negative energies inside the crystals.

General guideline for better effectiveness:

Use natural running water (eg. the ocean, rain, a waterfall or a stream). Otherwise, rinsing at home is also fine.
Fully submerge your crystals
Submerge crystals for at least an hour.

However, some crystals can dissolve or be damaged underwater. Avoid cleansing these crystals with this method (this is a non-exhaustive list):

Amazonite
Amber
Angelite
Aquamarine
Azurite
Black Tourmaline
Calcite
Celestite
Fluorite
Kunzite
Kyanite
Lapis Lazuli
Turquoise
Malachite
Moonstone
Opal
Pyrite
Ruby
Selenite
Topaz

4. Tuning Fork or Singing Bowl

Singing Bowl

Another method of cleansing crystals is through the use of sound. It is believed that the sonic vibrational frequencies from these tools not only clear the negative energies of the crystals but also amplify the crystals’ healing capabilities.

To use the singing bowl, surround it with the crystals you desire to cleanse. In a clockwise direction, move your mallet and let it produce a ringing sound. Continue producing the sound for 5 – 10 minutes.

5. Other Crystals

There are particular crystals with vibrational frequencies strong enough to cleanse themselves as well as other crystals. To use this cleansing method, place your crystals next to or on these powerful crystals for at least a few hours or overnight.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of crystals that can cleanse other crystals