Cleansing your crystals is essential to flush out the negative energies they have absorbed. There are many ways to cleanse your crystals, but one of the most popular methods is to use water. It is true that it’s an easy and effective way to cleanse your gemstones. However, I have ruined quite a few crystals this way because I didn’t know that some stones cannot get wet. Water can literally dissolve some minerals, so doing some research before your first cleanse your new gemstones is essential to avoid a disaster. Read on to discover what crystals cannot be cleansed in water and other ways to cleanse them.
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Why can’t some crystals go in water?
There are several types of crystals that cannot go in water. The main issue is that when they are left in water for long periods of time, they will dissolve, crack or lose their color. And the damage cannot be undone.
If you don’t want to damage your crystal, the first and most important thing to do is to identify your gemstone. Before doing anything with it, you need to be certain of the type of stone you have in front of you. To identify your stone, you can use a crystal book or search for it on the internet. You can find my favorite crystal books here. If that’s not enough, you can go to your local crystal store and ask a professional to help you identify your mineral.
The next important thing to consider is the hardness of your crystal. In fact, any crystal that is under 5 on the MOH hardness scale should not get wet.
The MOH Hardness scale was created in 1812. It can be used to determine the scratch resistance or hardness of a crystal. The scale goes from 1, the softest crystal, to 10 the hardest one. Selenite, for example, is a 2 on the MOH scale, which means it will literally dissolve if you put it in water.
The last thing to consider is the chemical composition of your crystals. To me, it’s the most interesting part. I love learning about crystals, their properties, and what they are made of. I think if you want to work properly with your gemstones, learning some basic geology principles is essential.
Certain crystals contain chemical elements that make them toxic. These crystals cannot be cleansed in water because they can leech toxic chemicals into the water. For example, crystals that contain copper such as Malachite or Azurite are toxic.
So you should be careful when using and handling these crystals. Most importantly you should never use them for crystal elixirs.
Other crystals that contain iron, such as Pyrite or Hematite, for example, will rust and oxidize when immersed in water.
What crystals cannot be cleansed in water?
Even though some of the crystals on this list will be fine for a quick rinse, I have added them because repeated exposure to water can definitely damage them. But all the crystals listed below should definitely not be immersed in water for a long period of time. Here are some of the most common crystals that are not water safe:
Angelite
MOH Hardness: 3.5
Angelite will get damaged and eventually dissolve if you repeatedly expose it to water.
Apatite
MOH Hardness: 5
Apatite is safe for a quick rinse, but don’t let it soak for hours. It is also a toxic crystal so don’t use it for crystal elixirs.
Azurite
MOH Hardness: 2.5 to 4
Azurite is a crystal that contains copper. It gives off sulfur when mixed with water.
Black Tourmaline
MOH Hardness: 7 to 7.5
Black Tourmaline is a relatively hard stone. It can be cleansed under tap water for a few minutes. However, prolonged contact with water and saltwater can damage the stone.
Calcite
MOH Hardness: 3 to 4
Calcite should not be left soaking in water for a long period of time. Also, saltwater will definitely damage the crystal.
Celestite
MOH Hardness: 3 to 3.5
Celestite is a sky blue crystal consisting of strontium sulfate. It is very soft and will dissolve in water.
Cinnabar
MOH Hardness: 2 to 2.5
Cinnabar is really soft and it contains mercury, which is very toxic. You should definitely avoid soaking it.
Desert Rose
MOH Hardness: 2
Desert Rose is a type of gypsum that will dissolve if you put it in water.
Fluorite
MOH Hardness: 4
Fluorite is slightly soluble when it comes into contact with water. Saltwater will literally ruin its appearance.
Hematite
MOH Hardness: 5.5 to 6.5
Hematite contains iron oxide that rusts when it comes in contact with water.
Jet
MOH Hardness: 2.5 to 4
Jet is a very soft type of lignite, the lowest rank of coal, that is not water safe.
Kyanite
MOH Hardness: 4.5 to 5
Kyanite is a self-cleansing crystal. It is quite soft so it shouldn’t come in contact with water.
Labradorite
MOH Hardness: 6 to 6.5
Labradorite is one of these crystals that can briefly get wet, but should not be submerged in water for a long period of time. Don’t cleanse it in saltwater.
Lapis Lazuli
MOH Hardness: 5 to 6
Lapis Lazuli contains Lazurite, Calcite, and Pyrite. Prolonged contact with water may dissolve or damage the Calcite content.
Lepidolite
MOH Hardness: 2.5 to 3
Lepidolite is a lithium-rich mica mineral that will flake apart in water.
Malachite
MOH Hardness: 3.5 to 4
Malachite is another copper carbonate mineral that is toxic and not water safe. Do not put it in saltwater either.
Opal
MOH Hardness: 5.5
Ethiopian opals are extremely porous which means they will become colorless when soaked in water. Solid opals however are fine in water. If they dry too quickly they will crack.
Pyrite
MOH Hardness: 6 to 6.5
Pyrite can produce sulfuric acid in water. It also contains heavy metals and other dangerous contaminants.
Selenite
MOH Hardness: 2
Selenite is a very soft crystal that will dissolve if you put it in water. The good news is, it’s a self-cleansing crystal. You can even use it to cleanse other gemstones.
Tangerine Quartz
MOH Hardness: 7
Even though Tangerine Quartz is a fairly hard crystal, it is made of iron oxide that will rust when in contact with water. It can also fade.
Turquoise
MOH Hardness: 5 to 7
Turquoise is prone to cracking and fading when it comes in contact with water. It also contains copper, making it unsafe for crystal elixirs.
What crystals are water safe?
There are many crystals that are safe to cleanse in water. Most of them are perfect for beginners. Keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list! But it will give you a good idea of what types of crystals can be in contact with water. So here is a list of the most common water safe crystals:
Quartz: If you’re a beginner, your first crystals will probably be from the quartz family. With a MOH hardness of 7, they are safe to cleanse in water.
Some of the most popular quartz crystals include:
- Clear Quartz
- Amethyst
- Smoky Quartz
- Rose Quartz
- Tiger’s Eye
- Aventurine (green, orange, blue, grey)
- Red Jasper
- Citrine
Agate: Agate is a mix of Chalcedony and quartz, making it perfectly safe for water cleansing. There are many different types of Agate including the following:
- Fire Agate
- Moss Agate
- Crazy Lace Agate
- Blue Lace Agate
- Sardonyx
How to cleanse crystals that can’t go in water?
There are many different ways to cleanse your crystals. If you are worried about using water, here are other techniques the are safe for all crystals:
Smudging
Smudging is my favorite cleansing technique. You can use smoke from Sage, Palo Santo, or incense. Another great benefit of this technique is that it will leave a wonderful smell in your home. All you have to do is hold your crystals in the smoke for about 30 seconds. Don’t forget to open a window to let the smoke and negative energy leave your home.
Moonlight
Moonlight is one of the most popular ways to cleanse crystals. It is safe for all crystals. You can place your crystals under any phase of the moon. However, the most popular time to cleanse them is during the full moon. Place your crystals outside on a table or near a window and let them bathe in the moonlight for the night.
Sound
You can use singing bowls, chanting, or tuning forks to cleanse your crystals with sound. The vibration of the tone will cleanse your crystals and compels them to resonate in harmony. The frequencies penetrate the gemstone, removing energy blocks and negative vibes.
Crystal clusters
You can use other crystals to cleanse your gemstones. Large Amethyst clusters, geodes, or Selenite slabs are popular cleansing tools. Simply place your smaller crystal on top of the bigger one. The larger stone’s vibrations will remove the negative energies of the smaller one. Leave them for about twenty four hours.
Earth
Another fantastic way to cleanse your crystals is to bury them in the ground. It’s a very natural and powerful way to cleanse your gemstones and recharge them at the same time. Bury them in your garden or a plant pot for a day or two.
Visualization
Visualization is probably not for everyone, as it requires a deep connection to your sense of self. With this technique, you can redirect your energy to the stone in order to restore it to its natural state. Choose a quiet space, sit down and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths to ground your energy. Pick up your stone and visualize white radiant light surrounding your stone. Envision all the negative energies clearing out of the stone, leaving it bright and ready to serve a new purpose.
To learn more about how to cleanse crystals, you can click here to read my post.
Bottom line
It is important to know that some crystals can’t be cleansed with water. Before you cleanse your new gemstones, make sure you check their MOH hardness and composition to figure out if they contain toxic chemical elements.
Some of the most common crystals that cannot be cleansed in water include Malachite, Pyrite, Selenite, Azurite, and Hematite. Luckily, there are many other ways you can cleanse your gemstones. You can smudge them with sage or use other crystals to remove all the negative energies from your water-soluble gemstones.
Have you ever cleansed your crystals with water? Let me know in the comments below!