How to Care for Every Crystal

Because crystals are mineralogically different. Selenite (Mohs 2) dissolves in water; Quartz (Mohs 7) can be safely rinsed. Soft and fibrous-habit stones scratch in salt. Citrine fades in sun. The care method has to match the stone's actual chemistry and hardness, not a universal rule.

Mohs hardness is a 1-10 scale of how easily a stone scratches. Mohs 1 (talc) is softer than a fingernail; Mohs 10 (diamond) is the hardest natural substance. For care: anything Mohs 5 or below needs careful handling, separate storage, and gentle cleansing methods. Mohs 6+ is safe for water rinsing and most jewelry settings.

The classical 'never water' list: Selenite, Halite, Calcite, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Pyrite, Hematite, Angelite, and any salt-family stones. Selenite dissolves; Malachite is also toxic when wet. Use moonlight, Selenite-plate charging, or sound for these stones.

Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Citrine (if natural), Fluorite, Kunzite, Aquamarine, Smoky Quartz, and Aventurine all fade with prolonged direct sun exposure. Brief morning sun is usually fine; midday sun for hours at a time will permanently dull the colour. Charge these stones under moonlight instead.

Some crystals (Malachite, Cinnabar, Realgar, Galena, raw Lapis) contain copper, mercury, arsenic, lead, or other unsafe compounds that leach when the stone contacts water. Never make a direct-contact drinking elixir from these stones. Use the indirect-elixir method: place the crystal alongside a sealed water bottle, never inside it.

It depends on the use. Daily-carry stones benefit from weekly cleansing. Altar or display stones do well with monthly cleansing aligned to the full moon. Stones used in readings, healings, or grids should be cleansed after each session. Trust the felt sense, a stone that feels heavy or dim is asking for a cleanse.

Cleansing removes the energy a stone has absorbed (your residue, the room's, the prior intention's). Charging adds energy to the stone, programming it with a new purpose. Cleansing is the reset; charging is the new download. Most rituals do both in sequence: cleanse first, then charge with intention.

Yes. Selenite is the universal exception: it does not need cleansing itself and can cleanse every other stone. Place your full crystal collection on a Selenite slab, wand, or plate for 6-12 hours and they will all reset together. This is the most efficient bulk-cleansing method in traditional crystal-healing practice.