Cleansing Crystals with Water

Cleansing your crystals with water is very simple, but you have to be sure your crystal is safe to be water cleansed first! Some crystals and minerals are water soluble, and also can be toxic. If you're interested in cleansing your crystals with water, you'll want to follow these rules.

How do I know if my crystal is safe to be cleansed in water?

When determining if a crystal can be cleansed in water, you want to take into consideration the hardness level of the stone. A mineral's hardness is a measure of its relative resistance to scratching, measured by scratching the mineral against another substance of known hardness on the Mohs Hardness Scale(MHS). It is a good rule of thumb to only cleanse crystals that measure a 6 or higher on the MHS.

Which crystals cannot be cleansed in water due to their toxicity?

Some gemstones contain metals or toxins. Whilst these stones are all safe to place on the body, or within the aura, to gain their healing effects, they must NEVER be used directly in water for use as gem elixirs or essences. If you wish to make a gem elixir or essence from a known toxic gemstone, or you are unsure about a particular gemstone, only use the indirect method. Below is a list of the better known toxic gemstones, but please be aware that this list is by no means complete.

Amazonite, Azurite, Chrysocolla, Malachite, Turquoise - contains Copper

Angelite - will convert to Gypsum when immersed in water

Pyrite - contains Sulphur

Tiger's Eye - contains Asbestos in its fibrous form

Serpentine - contains Asbestos in its fibrous form

Celestite - contains Strontium

Fluorite - contains Fluorine

Hematite, Magnetite (not toxic) - will rust in water

Selenite (not toxic) - has shards that can break off in water

Cinnabar - contains Mercury and Quicksilver

Aquamarine, Black Tourmaline, Emerald, Garnet, Iolite, Labradorite, Lepidolite, Moonstone, Prehnite, Ruby, Sapphire, Sodalite, Sugilite, Sunstone, Topaz, Tourmaline, Turquoise, Variscite, Vesuvianite - contains Aluminum

How do I know the hardness level of my crystal?

Use this chart to identify the hardness of your crystal:

I have determined that my crystal is safe to cleanse with water! What do I do next?

You can hold your crystal under running water, or place in a bowl of moon or sun water to cleanse your crystals.

For an extra boost, you can use salt water. Salt has been used throughout history to absorb unwanted energy and banish negativity.

If you’re near the ocean, consider collecting a bowl of fresh salt water. Otherwise, mix a tablespoon of sea, rock, or table salt into a bowl of water.

Make sure that your stone is completely submerged, and allow it to soak for a few hours to a few days’ time. Rinse and pat dry when complete.

Approximate duration: up to 48 hours

Sea Salt - Course

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