Crystal care comes down to three things: know what your stone is made of, keep soft or porous stones away from water and strong sun, and buy from sellers who say honestly what a stone is. This guide collects everything on cleansing, safety and authenticity.
The quick care chart
| Stone | Water | Strong sunlight | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear quartz | Short rinse is fine | Fine | Hard and durable |
| Amethyst | Short rinse is fine | Fades | Keep off sunny windowsills |
| Rose quartz | Short rinse is fine | Can fade | Dry after rinsing |
| Citrine | Short rinse is fine | Fine | Much citrine is heated amethyst |
| Selenite | Never | Fine | Very soft, scratches with a fingernail |
| Malachite | No | Fine | Copper mineral, never in drinking water |
| Pyrite | No | Fine | Tarnishes when damp |
| Fluorite | Wipe only | Fades | Soft, chips easily |
| Lapis lazuli | No | Fine | Porous |
| Black tourmaline | Short rinse is fine | Fine | Brittle, can splinter |
The full lists: Crystals that cannot go in water and Which crystals fade in sunlight.
Cleansing in short
Cleansing is a ritual for resetting a stone after use. The gentlest methods work for every stone: smoke from incense, sound from a bowl or bell, a night on a selenite plate or a night in moonlight. See How to cleanse crystals.
Free printable: Crystal Care Cheat Sheet
One page with water, sun and cleansing advice for the most common stones.
Open the cheat sheetReal or fake?
Most “fake” crystals are real minerals sold under the wrong name: heated amethyst sold as citrine, dyed howlite sold as turquoise, glass sold as obsidian or quartz. Learn the signs in How to spot fake crystals and Real vs. fake citrine.
All crystal care guides
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Crystals That Cannot Go in Water: The Safe Cleansing Chart
Which crystals should never be put in water and why: soft, porous, rust-prone and copper-bearing stones, with a chart and safe alternatives.
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How to Cleanse Crystals: 7 Methods Compared
Seven ways to cleanse crystals compared: smoke, sound, selenite, moonlight, water, earth and breath, with which stones each method suits.
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How to Program a Crystal With an Intention in 3 Steps
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How to Spot Fake Crystals: Glass, Dye and Wrong Names
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How to Store and Travel With Crystals
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Left or Right Wrist: Which Hand Should You Wear a Crystal Bracelet On?
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Real vs. Fake Citrine: How to Spot Heat-Treated Amethyst
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The Mohs Hardness Scale for Crystals, With a Chart
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What Does It Mean When a Crystal Breaks, Cracks or Goes Missing?
Why crystals break, what tradition says about a broken or lost crystal, and practical ideas for what to do with the pieces.
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Where to Buy Real Crystals Online: What to Check in a Shop
How to judge an online crystal shop: mineral names, stated treatments, real photos, sizes and weights, and warning signs of misleading sellers.
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Where to Place Crystals in Your Home, Room by Room
Ideas for where to place crystals in the entrance, living room, bedroom, desk, kitchen and bathroom, with safety tips on sun, water…
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Which Crystals Fade in Sunlight? And How to Charge Them Safely
Amethyst, rose quartz, smoky quartz, fluorite, kunzite and celestite can fade in strong sunlight. See the list and safer ways to charge…