How to Clean Crystal Rocks
Mining for your own crystals can be a very rewarding experience, although cleaning them afterward is a bit of a task. There are a few ways to clean your crystals of dirt and clay, and if done well, you will soon have crystals as clear as water to add to your collection, show to your friends, sell or use for healing.
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Things You'll Need
- Dirty crystals
- Oxalic acid
- Heavy rubber gloves
- Eye goggles
- Plastic garbage bag
- Nut pick
- Dental pick (optional)
- Baking soda
- Sea salt (optional)
- Sage smudge sticks (optional)
- Sweetgrass (optional)
Instructions
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Let the mud or clay on your crystals dry completely. Turn them over to make sure all of the dirt dries. Clusters take more time to dry since the mud is embedded.
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2
Wash your crystal points off outside with a garden hose when the mud or clay is dry. Points are the individual pieces of crystal and are easiest to clean. Clean your crystals thoroughly until all traces of clay are gone.
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Clean your cluster crystals with a dental pick or nut pick to get dirt out of the crevices. Clusters are groupings of two or more crystals, joined at the base, and are more difficult to clean. Rinse well and dry the clusters for several days, then rinse again with water.
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Put on your heavy rubber gloves and safety goggles. Make an oxalic acid solution with one part oxalic acid and three parts water in a plastic bucket. This solution will remove the brownish rust from your crystals.
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Take your crystals outside and put them in the bucket. Soak your crystals in the oxalic acid solution, making sure they are covered with it, for three to five days.
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Remove your crystals from the bucket and rinse them thoroughly under water. Notice their clarity and beauty. If you see more rust, place the crystals back in the solution for another day or so.
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Pour baking soda into the bucket of oxalic acid solution after removing your cleaned crystals to neutralize the acid. It is safe to pour the neutralized acid onto the ground.
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Place your cleaned crystals onto paper towels or newspaper to dry. They are now ready to add to your collection.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy oxalic acid in powder form at a drugstore, rock shop or online.
If you plan to use your crystals for healing, place your physically cleaned crystals in large plastic bowl indoors and fill with room temperature water, covering the crystals about an inch. Add approximately 1 tbsp. of sea salt per crystal and soak overnight. Rinse and drain on paper towels.
Clean any crystals that cannot be used in salt water by smudging them with sage or sweetgrass to remove any negative energies. Light a sage stick or sweetgrass, blow it out and fan the smoke over the crystals.
Do not wash your crystals in your kitchen or bathroom sink. The mud will clog your pipes and you might need to call a plumber.
Never use oxalic acid indoors--the fumes are toxic. Keep oxalic acid away from children and pets.
Always wear heavy rubber gloves and eye goggles when working with oxalic acid.
Always neutralize oxalic acid by adding baking soda to it before you dispose of it.
Rinse any splashed oxalic acid on your skin off immediately.
