How to Care for Your Crystals

Crystals are durable, but they are not all alike. Some are harder than steel and some can be scratched with a fingernail. Some keep their colour for a lifetime in a sunny window and some fade within a season. This guide covers the practical care that keeps a stone looking as it did the day it arrived, and the traditional practices many people use to keep it feeling fresh.

Everyday cleaning

For almost every stone, a soft, dry cloth is all the cleaning it needs. Wipe away dust and skin oils every week or two. If a stone needs more, a barely damp cloth followed by a dry one is enough for hard stones such as quartz, amethyst and agate. Avoid soaps, sprays and jewellery cleaners, which can dull a polished surface or collect in the drill holes of a bracelet.

Stones that fade in sunlight

Strong, direct sun can lighten the colour of several popular stones over time. Keep these out of sunny windows and do not leave them on a windowsill to "charge" in daylight:

• Amethyst, which can pale towards grey
• Rose quartz, which can lose its pink
• Fluorite, which can fade and is also soft
• Citrine, especially lighter pieces
• Smoky quartz and kunzite

A bright room is fine. It is hours of direct sun, day after day, that does the damage.

Stones that do not like water

Water is a traditional way to cleanse crystals, but it is the wrong choice for some of them.

• Selenite is a soft form of gypsum and slowly dissolves in water. Keep it completely dry.
• Pyrite and hematite contain iron and can rust or tarnish if they stay damp.
• Malachite is soft and porous, so keep it away from water and salt.
• Lapis lazuli and turquoise are porous and can dull with moisture.

If you are unsure, keep a stone dry. No stone is harmed by a soft cloth.

Bracelets

Take your bracelet off before you shower, swim, exercise hard or apply perfume and lotion. Water and oils weaken the stretch cord over time. Roll it on and off rather than pulling it wide, and store it flat. If the cord ever feels loose, message us: restringing is a simple job.

Storing your stones

Harder stones scratch softer ones. Store pieces apart, in a pouch or a lined box, rather than loose together in a bowl. Keep delicate points, clusters and carvings on a stable, padded surface where they will not be knocked.

Traditional cleansing and refreshing

In the crystal traditions, stones are cleansed now and then to clear what they are said to have gathered. You do not have to believe in this to enjoy the ritual: it is also a good moment to handle the stone, clean it and set a fresh intention. Choose a method that suits the stone.

• A selenite plate: rest a stone on selenite for a few hours or overnight. Gentle, dry and suitable for almost everything.
• Moonlight: leave a stone on an indoor windowsill overnight, especially around the full moon. It avoids the fading risk of sunlight.
• Sound: a singing bowl or bell rung near the stone for a minute.
• Smoke: pass the stone through the smoke of incense or sage, with a window open.

Avoid salt for soft or porous stones, and avoid water for the stones listed above. Every piece we send is energised by Lavina and her team of healers before it leaves the studio, so there is no need to cleanse it the day it arrives.

How often

A light dry wipe every week or two, and a traditional cleanse once a month, or whenever the stone has been through a heavy time with you, suits most people. The best routine is the one you will keep.

Each product page lists care notes for that particular piece. If you have a question about a stone you already own, write to us.

Crystal associations come from tradition and our own practice. They are not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Healing disclaimer