There is no right or wrong way to cleanse crystals and people use the method or methods that they feel work best for them. The stones have been subject to different energies before people acquire them.
The easiest way to cleanse crystals is simply to blow on them. They can be placed directly into sunlight, not behind glass for a day or up to a week. They can be put into netting and placed into running water like a creek or river over night. They can be submerged into either earth or sea salt overnight for the initial cleansing, then, periodically placed in salt water for fifteen minutes or longer.
Wiccan author Scott Cunningham explains in his book Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic, (ISBN: 0-87542-126-1), that there are ritualistic ways of cleansing crystals. He suggests doing this during the day. An altar or table can be used.
Fill a bowl with fresh water and place it to the West. Put a lit red candle to the South, smoking incense to the East and a container of fresh dug earth to the North. They represent the Four Elements, water, fire, air and earth and their corresponding directions. Put the crystals in the center of these items.
Place a crystal in the earth and cover and say words like, “I cleanse you with earth.” Allow it to stay there for a few moments and visualize the earth absorbing impurities. Remove the crystal, brush off the earth, then wave it back and forth in the smoke. This cleanses it with air. Visualize the smoke cleansing disturbing energies. Put the crystal through the candle flame several times and visualize the flame burning away negativity. Put the crystal in the water and visualize the water cleansing it. Dry the stone with a clean cloth and feel its energy in your receptive hand. If you are right handed, it is the left hand and vice versa. You can feel if it is totally cleansed. If not, repeat the process.
Each crystal has its own properties. Crystal quartz can be used as a substitute for all of the other crystals.
Hold the stone in your projective hand, right if you are right-handed and vice versa. Feel that which is what you desire. Feel the emotion of desire and the need. Imagine it a ray of energy that is the color of what you want.
Project into the crystal. Some crystals will vibrate. Others do not. Once you feel the stone is charged, in order to use the energy, hold the stone in your receptive hand and feel the energy pouring into your body. You can put it in a special place or carry it in your receptive pocket in order to feel the energy when needed.
Red - protection and energy
Pink – love
Orange – gentler than red - protection and energy
Yellow – communication and t intelligence
Green – fertility, abundance and luck
Blue – healing and peacefulness
Indigo – Courage, protection, money and luck
Violet – deep healing and psychic powers
White – protection and the White Light of God
Black – absorbs and banishes evil