crystals are like energy sponges. When we work with one for too long or acquire it from a questionable source, our favorite crystal can carry extra energy we don’t necessarily want or need. Periodic purification is essential to tapping into and embracing their magic — and making them shine a little brighter, too. What’s the best way to cleanse your crystals? We asked the pros at Energy Muse to break down the basics…

Working with crystals doesn’t have to be hard, but there’s one important step that often gets missed: clearing. Just like washing make-up brushes, sharpening knives or steaming vegetables before freezing for smoothies, energy clearing is a critical step in enhancing the power and effectiveness of your crystals.

Clearing your crystals restores their energy to the fullest potential. Just as furniture accumulates dust over time, crystals accumulate energetic debris from the people and environments they come into contact with. That’s why clearing is so important—it removes all that built-up energy and returns your crystal to its purest state.

How To Clear + Cleanse Crystal Energy

Luckily, there are many different ways to clear your crystals so you can find the method that works best for you. Below are some of my favorite ways to clear and cleanse crystals:

Sage | Burning sage is one of the most popular, and most effective, ways to clear crystals. The smoke created by burning sage is said to carry away any low vibrational energy stored in the crystal.

How-to: Immerse your crystal in the smoke of burning sage for at least 30 seconds.

Palo Santo | Palo Santo wood is another popular cleansing tool. It’s used in the same way as sage, since you use the smoke of the burning Palo Santo to purify the crystal. Different from sage, however, is the energy of Palo Santo. The smoke of this holy wood is believed to provide medicinal and therapeutic properties. Palo Santo brings blessings and joy, which is why I love to use it as a complement to—rather than replacement of—sage.

How-to: Immerse your crystal in the smoke of burning Palo Santo for at least 30 seconds. For the ultimate cleanse, use this method after saging your crystals.

Moonlight | In an ideal world, use the light of the full moon because that’s when the moon is at its brightest. This powerful moonlight restores your crystal to its brightest form. However, I still sometimes use moonlight even when it’s not the full moon.

How-to: Place your crystal outside under the light of the full moon for four hours or more. (If you do not have the ability to place your crystal directly under moonlight, use a windowsill instead. Or try one of the other cleansing methods that makes more sense for you.)

Sunlight | Similar to moonlight, you can use the energy of the sun to burn away old energy from your crystal and fill it with light. Note: This method works for most crystals, however some crystals (like Amethyst) fade under direct sunlight.

How-to: Place your crystal outside under the sun for four hours or more.

Return to Earth | This is one of the lesser-known methods, but it’s one of my personal favorites. Using the energy of mother Earth by returning your crystal to the soil heightens its power and refuels its energy.

How-to: In a potted plant or another area, place your crystal on top of the soil or bury it underneath. Leave it there, untouched, for 24 hours.

Sound | Sound vibration breaks up stagnant energy stored within the crystal, allowing it to vibrate at a higher frequency.

How-to: Download and play the music of Tibetan singing bowls, the om mantra, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony or another of your favorite cleansing soundtracks.

Selenite + Clear Quartz | It may sound counterintuitive to cleanse your crystal with another crystal, but Selenite and Clear Quartz have such high vibrations that they can actually clear and recharge the energy of other crystals.

How-to: Place your crystals on a selenite or clear quartz crystal overnight.

Saltwater | The combination of water and salt both purifies the crystal’s energy and draws out negativity. Note: Make sure you are mindful when placing certain crystals in water; many of the softer ones that are salt-based will dissolve when they get wet.

How-to: Immerse your crystal in a bowl of salt water for 60 seconds.

How Often Should I Cleanse My Crystals?

You can use your intuition to determine when a crystal’s energy feels heavy or dense and in need of clearing. As a general guideline, it’s recommended that you cleanse your crystal whenever you set a new intention or at least once every 30 days.