Which crystals can go in water? As a general guide, you should only water cleanse crystals with a rating of 6 or above on the Mohs hardness scale. You should also avoid water for crystals that have iron ore or copper in them.
If you are as precious about your pretty crystals as we are, the last thing you want is to ruin them. It’s important to keep our precious gems and sparkling stones cleansed and cleared of any stagnant energy so they can hum at the highest of their frequency and do all that important healing work. Some crystals are fine to be water cleansed but some won’t like it at all. You definitely want to avoid putting crystals in water that have any risk of cracking, rusting, or dissolving. We have collected all our crystal knowledge (and then some) to put together this straight-up guide on which crystals can get soaked and which should stay dry.
Understanding Mohs Hardness Scale
The Mohs hardness scale is a savvy bit of kit that helps us to understand the hardness of minerals out there in the world. Using a scale of 1-10, the minerals are tested using other minerals to check the surface resistance of the stone. By scratching one stone with the other and seeing which one causes damage and which sustains damage, it can then be given a number on the scale. At the bottom of the scale, you have talc and pearls and rock salt and at the top of the scale, you have the unbreakable diamond, ruby, and sapphire.
As mentioned, crystals above a 5 or 6 are generally safe to go in water but this scale shouldn’t be the sole factor when it comes to decision making. Some crystals that are high on the scale have other features and facets to them which means they can’t get wet - whether that’s the addition of other elements in them or other sensitivities. Don’t worry, we are going to sketch this out for you, so you have a handy reference guide to refer to if in doubt.
Hard Crystals that are Safe in Water
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All these crystals below hit a high note on the Mohs scale and don’t have any other factors that could make them sensitive to water. Feel free to give these gems a good rinse with water for a spring clean, add them to your tub for a goddess soak, or even leave them in a glass of H20 to make a magic crystal elixir.
This stone rebalances the body and brings the mind and soul into harmony. Different kinds of Agate have different healing properties but all share calmness and balance.
A highly protective and grounding stone, Obsidian mops up bad energy so you can stay stable and clear no matter what.
This heart healing gem is radiant with soft shades of love and self-compassion. For those who want to bring more light into their life, this gem will nurture that vibe.
Say farewell to fear and let go of negative thinking as this stone helps you to find emotional calmness and move forward into positive thought and action.
The supreme nurturer is full of warming energy to rouse your soul, awaken your passions, and get your yin and yang vibes ironed out.
The master healer, Clear Quartz is an amazing all-rounder that will cleanse and align all your chakras and help you find a place of perfect clarity.
Get ready to straighten that crown of serenity as this purple-hued gem is all about spirituality, connection, and calmness. It can heal headaches, encourage sleep, and let your crown chakra shine.
Prosperity and a sense of inner power are both traits to be strengthened by this glimmering green stone. Awesome for enhancing leadership qualities and healing the heart.
Power and prowess are the mainstay elements of this black and gold banded gem. For those seeking healthy boundaries, strong decision making, and enhanced intuition.
Sweet with sunshine vibes, this golden gem is known as the merchant's stone as it brings good luck and optimistic thinking.
Kissed by fire, Carnelian is a highly energetic stone linked to the lower chakras. This gem isn’t a fan of saltwater so keep it cleansed in freshwater only.
Stones that cannot be washed with water
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Now we get to the softer end of the scale and stones which shouldn't be washed in water to preserve their gentle nature. Practicing care, compassion, and intention with your gems will strengthen your connection and relationship to your crystal collection. Rather than cleanse these stones with water you can use safe noninvasive techniques like smudging, using other crystals that naturally cleanse, and the no contact water method (leaving stones next to a glass of water without them getting wet). Here are the gems that should skip out on a soaking or even a spritzing...
Mystical and magic, this dreamer's stone is all about intuition, third eye healing, and accessing higher notes of wisdom.
Forever ready to go with the flow, this pristine clear-headed gem carries a calming vibration that can bring order to chaos and strengthen our sense of self along with cleansing auras and chakras too.
Inner strength and balance are ever-present in this copper flecked blue stone. Azurite also activates the third eye chakra.
Even though Kyanite comes laced in water energy, this stone has plenty of purity without the need to greet water. Known for its sense of stillness, presence, and quiet strength.
Divine feminine energy and rejuvenation bless the desert rose delight of Selenite. Known for angelic connections and moon magic.
A stone with a strong commitment to the truth, Apatite clears the throat chakra, awakens creativity, and helps balance out yin yang energies according to your needs.
Clears out emotional stress, awakens psychic abilities, and helps you to channel your energy into pursuits that suit your soul.
Emotional balance and inner peace sit at the heart of this healing purple stone. Dissolve blockages, heal old wounds and nurture your sense of self-acceptance.
This angelic stone activates the higher chakras and infuses you with a gorgeous gentle uplifting energy.
Full of flowing and cleansing energy, this blue-green gem entices you to move into acceptance, speak your truth, strengthen your trust, and let go of that which does not serve.
Strong and protective, Hematite restores strength and keeps your circulation in fine flow. A blood stone that grounds and protects, you feel tethered and ready to stand tall.
Love and devotion and divine heart-healing can be found in the pretty pale pink stone of Kunzite. Full of high vibrations, Kunzite clears the path for you.
Gypsum
Soft and sweet, Gypsum is excellent for helping overcome old habits, moving from stress to serenity, and learning how to set healthy boundaries.
A swallower of negative energies and full of strong grounding forces, this inky stone can keep us fiercely protected and full of life.
Up your masculine energy, improve lung health, and heighten your levels of optimism with this wealthy and wondrous golden nugget gem.
Ripe with feminine energy and forever ready to help us accept cyclical changes, Moonstone is magic for new beginnings, overcoming PMS problems, and boosting fertility.
Halite
Open the heart, heal old wounds, and clear your space of electromagnetic smog and bad vibes with this soft pink gem.
Creativity and clarity can be found in this starlit blue and gold gem. Lapis is a lullaby for higher thinking, accessing inner wisdom, and expressing feelings and emotions.
Cool and pure in energy, Turquoise helps you to feel soothed and supported. It also boosts the immune system and promotes positive flow.
Calm down your nervous system and tap into universal love with this gentle and harmonious hope stone.
Feel whole and healed with the loving energy of Angelite. A truly calming stone, Angelite can help balance out overwhelm and grant you a peaceful presence.
Absorbs negative energies and activates the chakras - especially the heart. Malachite is very soft and hugely toxic in water. Keep it far from water and don’t touch any water it has been in.
Charging Your Crystals
Now we have the lowdown on how to keep your crystals cleansed. It's also good to know how to charge them back up. This is how you keep your stones working at their max capacity so that they are able to assist you on your spiritual journey through life without a stutter. Here are a few ways in which you can amp up your crystal power and get them charged…
- Leave them in the light of the full moon overnight
- Leave them in sunlight for a short period of time
- Plant in soil or a garden
- Place in a bowl with other high vibration crystals
- Place it in a jar or water bottles filled with spring water or salt water (if safe to do so)
- You can also use your crystals to make elixirs and gem water to sip whenever you need an infusion of healing power.
Conclusion
The world is full of beautiful crystals, and they are all utterly unique in their composition and creative healing - there is no one size fits all. This is why it's important to understand the unique properties of your gem collection and to have an inherent understanding of how to care for them so they can care for you. Soft crystals and gems with copper or iron should be kept away from water but those hardier gems with a strong surface can absolutely benefit from being cleansed and discharged in water and can be used to make bath time and bottled water even more nurturing in life.