Natural Stones and Crystals: How to Use, Care for and Clean Them

Natural stones and crystals, some of nature’s most beautiful objects, have been used by people for thousands of years as ornaments, amulets and tools of ritual. In crystal lore, each stone is said to have its own character. Whether you follow that lore or simply love the colors and textures, it pays to choose your stones with care, look after them well and clean them in a way that suits each stone.

Ways to Use Natural Stones and Crystals

There are many ways to bring natural stones into your life. Here are a few that may inspire you:

• Wearing as Jewelry: Necklaces, bracelets or rings made from natural stones let you keep a favorite stone close throughout the day. Many people love the look and feel of a stone worn against the skin.
• Meditation and Yoga: Holding a stone or keeping one nearby during meditation or yoga is a long-standing ritual in crystal traditions. Many people enjoy the quiet, grounded atmosphere it gives a session.
• Home Decor: Stones placed on a shelf, a windowsill or a desk bring color and texture to a room. In crystal lore, people choose stones for each room according to the mood they want that room to have.
• Chakra Lore: In crystal lore, specific stones are associated with each chakra, and people who follow this tradition place stones along the body or carry them during meditation.
• Crystal Elixirs: Some crystal lore describes “elixirs,” made by leaving a stone near or in water overnight for ritual and intention-setting. Many stones are not water-safe, and some contain minerals that should never be in drinking water, so we do not recommend drinking water that has held a stone.

Care of Natural Stones and Crystals

To keep your stones looking their best, a little regular care goes a long way. Here are the physical basics, followed by the traditional practices of crystal lore:

• Sun and Moonlight: In crystal lore, stones are traditionally “charged” in sunlight or moonlight, and the full moon is a favorite time. Moonlight is harmless, but strong sunlight can fade some stones, including amethyst and rose quartz, so keep sunlight sessions short or choose the moon instead.
• Grounding: In crystal tradition, burying stones in soil or placing them on the earth is said to return them to their natural state. If you try it, choose fine, dry soil, and rinse and dry hardy stones afterward. Soft stones can scratch.
• Smoke Cleansing: Passing stones through the smoke of Anatolian sage, palo santo or other incense is a traditional way to cleanse them in spiritual practice. Keep the stone a little above the smoke, ventilate the room and never leave burning incense unattended.
• Sound: In some traditions, singing bowls, gongs or chimes are played near stones to refresh them. It is a gentle practice that suits every stone.
• Contact with Other Stones: In crystal lore, some stones are said to refresh others when kept together; amethyst clusters are a traditional choice. Keep in mind that harder stones can scratch softer ones.
• Intention and Meditation: Hold a stone in your hands and focus on your intention. Using stones during meditation is a beloved ritual for many people.

Cleaning Natural Stones and Crystals

Many people clean a stone when it first arrives and then from time to time. Here are some common methods, with notes on which stones they suit:

• Running Water: Rinsing under running water and drying with a soft cloth is the simplest way to clean hard stones such as quartz, especially newly bought ones. Some stones are not water-safe; selenite, for example, is soft and water-soluble, so check before washing.
• Salt Water: Soaking stones in salt water is a traditional cleansing method, and in folklore salt is believed to absorb what is unwanted. Salt can pit or dull soft and porous stones, so use it only for hard stones and rinse well afterward to remove any residue.
• Rice: Leaving stones in a bowl of dry rice overnight is a traditional method in crystal lore. It is a dry, gentle option that suits stones that should not get wet.
• Soil: Burying stones in the earth for a while is, in crystal tradition, a way to return them to their natural state. Brush and rinse hardy stones afterward.
• Selenite: In crystal lore, selenite is said to refresh other stones placed on or beside it. You can rest your stones on a selenite plate or pass a selenite stick over them. Keep the selenite itself dry.

Traditional associations are shared as culture and folklore; this is not a substitute for medical care.

Explore our collection in the Natural Stones / Crystals section of our website and choose a special gift for yourself or someone you love.

Each stone brings its own color, texture and traditions. Take time to look at each one, read its story and find the one that suits you.

A natural stone also makes a thoughtful, lasting gift for the people you care about.