How to Cleanse Crystals: What the Research Shows

Cleansing a crystal means ritually clearing it of supposed negative energy, usually with smoke, light, sound or water. This guide separates that ritual from the physical care a stone actually needs, and says what the research does and does not show.

We sell a white sage, palo santo and crystal kit that includes one stone, so read this with that in mind. Where the research says one thing and our own listing says another, this guide says so. For the smoke side of the ritual, see our smudging guide.

What Does It Mean to Cleanse a Crystal?

In crystal-healing practice, cleansing means clearing a stone of supposed stored energy, before you use it or after you handle it. It is a ritual idea, not a mineral property.

• What stones are made of: The USGS gemstone guide describes stones by composition, hardness and specific gravity. Energy is not among them.
• Common methods: Crystal-shop guides usually name smoke, moonlight or sunlight, sound, breath, water, salt and resting a stone on a larger one.
• Which stones are in our kit: You choose one: amethyst, clear crystal, citrine, rose quartz, tiger eye, red jasper or lapis lazuli. USGS lists amethyst, citrine, rose quartz and clear rock crystal as varieties of quartz.

Is There Any Evidence That Crystals Hold Energy That Needs Clearing?

We found none. The closest test is a 2025 randomized trial in which rose quartz did no better than a look-alike stone on anxiety.

• The design: The trial in CNS Spectrums sorted 138 adults into believers and nonbelievers in crystals, then gave them rose quartz or a visually matched placebo for 14 days. Anxiety was scored with two standard scales.
• The result: Anxiety fell only among believers, whichever stone they held. There was no difference between the groups, and the authors' statistics favored no specific effect of the crystal.
• The authors' reading: They link the changes to expectation and conditioning, and say the findings do not support crediting crystals with built-in benefits.
• The limits: It is one study, it measured anxiety only, and it did not test cleansing. We found no study that did.

Why Might a Cleansing Ritual Still Feel Good?

Because a ritual can change how people feel whether or not the object does anything. Two sources suggest why, though neither tested crystals.

• Control: In a 2014 paper, three experiments found that people who completed a ritual after a loss reported less grief. Feeling more in control explained the effect, and it also appeared in people who did not profess belief in rituals.
• What rituals do: A 2018 review organizes the research around three functions of ritual: regulating emotions, regulating performance goal states and strengthening social connection.
• The limit: Neither source looked at crystals, and the 2025 crystal trial found anxiety changes only in believers. A ritual may help you feel settled. It does not show the stone changed.

How Do You Physically Clean a Crystal?

Use warm water, mild dish soap and a soft brush, then dry it. That is GIA's advice for most colored gems, but not every stone suits it.

• The method: GIA says most colored gems can be cleaned with warm water, mild dish soap (no detergents) and a soft brush. For jewelry it advises rinsing in a glass of water, not the sink, so nothing is lost. For a larger crystal we would rinse over a bowl.
• Know your stone: Four of the kit stones are quartz varieties per USGS, and it lists jasper among the silica varieties. Lapis lazuli is a rock of lazurite with flecks of pyrite and white calcite, at 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale. We did not find tiger eye on that page, so ask the seller about it.
• Soft against hard: USGS defines hardness as resistance to scratching, and calcite is 3 on the scale. It follows that quartz can scratch lapis, so store them apart.
• If unsure: GIA says delicate pieces can be cleaned with just water and a soft, lint-free cloth.

Which Common Cleansing Methods Can Damage a Crystal?

Sunlight and heat, harsh household chemicals and ultrasonic cleaners can each damage some stones, according to GIA. Check your stone before trying any of them.

• Sun and heat: GIA says light and heat can fade or damage some gemstones, naming amethyst, and that excessive heat and sudden temperature changes may fracture some gems. A sunny windowsill is a risk for amethyst.
• Chemicals: GIA says household cleaners often contain ammonia, which can be too harsh for delicate gems, and that hairspray, lotion, perfume and cosmetics can damage porous stones such as turquoise.
• Ultrasonic cleaners: GIA says not all gems can go in them. It lists lapis lazuli among gems susceptible to heat and temperature changes.
• Salt and long soaks: We found no authoritative source on salt water or long soaks for the stones in our kit, so we do not recommend them.

How Do You Cleanse a Crystal as a Ritual?

Pick a gentle method you find meaningful, such as a quiet minute, a few slow breaths or a brief pass through smoke, and see it as a ritual. Clean off dirt first.

1. Clean it first. Remove surface dirt with the method above if your stone allows it.
2. Choose a gentle method. Hold the stone for a quiet minute, or take a few slow breaths over it.
3. Ventilate if you use smoke. Open a window and keep it brief. Our smudging guide covers what the research says about smoke.
4. Set an intention. Say in a sentence what you want the stone to remind you of.
5. Put it where you will see it. Our kit page suggests a desk, nightstand or altar.

What Does Our Own Crystal Kit Page Claim?

Our product page says each kit is designed to help you clear stagnant energy, and that the stone keeps giving off its energy through the day. We could not source those claims for this guide.

The page also gives each stone a meaning, such as calm for amethyst or abundance for citrine, and says amethyst suits stress relief. Those are traditional associations, not findings. We are reviewing that wording. Until it is backed, read it as the seller's statement, not as evidence.

When Should You Talk to a Doctor About Anxiety or Using Crystals for It?

Talk to a doctor if anxiety, low mood or stress is getting in the way of daily life. A crystal is not a substitute. This guide is information, not medical advice.

The 2025 trial found no anxiety effect beyond a look-alike stone. If you have asthma or another breathing condition, check with your doctor before burning anything indoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you cleanse crystals?

Physically, with warm water, mild dish soap and a soft brush if the stone allows it, per GIA. As a ritual, with any gentle method you find meaningful. We found no evidence a ritual changes the stone.

Do crystals need to be cleansed?

Not for any reason we found evidence for. A 2025 trial found rose quartz did no better than a look-alike stone. Surface dirt can be wiped off.

Can you cleanse crystals in sunlight?

Not all of them. GIA says light and heat can fade or damage some gems, naming amethyst. Keep amethyst out of strong direct sun.

Can you put crystals in water?

GIA says most colored gems can be cleaned with warm water, mild dish soap and a soft brush. We found no source on long soaks or salt water, and lapis lazuli is a mixed rock, so skip soaking it.

How often should you cleanse crystals?

No evidence-based schedule exists. Clean off surface dirt when you see it. Any ritual timing, such as a monthly pass, is a personal choice.

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