If you've collected more than a couple of crystals, you've probably heard that they need to be "cleansed" now and then. It's one of the most common questions we get: how often, and how do you actually do it without damaging the stone?
Why Cleanse at All?
In crystal practice, stones are believed to absorb the energy of their environment and the people who handle them over time. Whether or not that resonates with you personally, there's a simpler reason to cleanse regularly: it's a built-in moment to actually notice your collection, wipe off dust, and check pieces for damage. Many collectors treat it as ritual maintenance as much as anything else.
The Common Methods
- Moonlight — the gentlest method for nearly any stone. Leave your crystal on a windowsill or outside overnight, ideally around the full moon, and bring it in before direct morning sun.
- Sunlight — effective and fast, but not for every stone. Deeply colored crystals like amethyst, citrine, and rose quartz can fade with prolonged sun exposure, so keep sun cleansing brief (an hour or two) for colored stones.
- Sound — a singing bowl, bell, or even a few claps held near the stone is a popular no-contact method that works for anything, including pieces that can't handle water or light.
- Smoke — passing a crystal through the smoke of sage, palo santo, or incense is one of the oldest cleansing rituals and works on virtually any material.
- A selenite charging plate — resting other crystals on or near a selenite piece is a favorite low-effort method, since selenite is widely believed to clear and never needs cleansing itself.
What You Should Never Put in Water
This is the one that trips up new collectors. Selenite is a form of gypsum, and gypsum dissolves in water — even a quick rinse can etch or cloud the surface permanently, and a soak will genuinely destroy it. The same caution applies to other soft stones (roughly under 6 on the Mohs hardness scale), like calcite, angelite, and desert rose. When in doubt, skip water entirely and use moonlight, sound, or smoke instead — they're safe for every stone in your collection, no exceptions.
A Note on Our Selenite Lamp
If you keep a piece of selenite in the room — like our Cleanse-All Selenite Lamp — you already have a large-format version of that "charging plate" effect running ambiently, on top of the soft glow it puts out. Just remember: dust it with a dry cloth only, never water.
However you land on the ritual side of it, regular cleansing is a good habit for keeping your collection in shape. Browse the full collection if you're ready to add to it.