Can Citrine Go In Water? (Read Before Cleaning)

Water cleansing is one of the most popular methods for cleansing healing crystals. It’s important to check if a crystal is safe to get wet, however, as softer crystals may crack or dissolve.

In this article, we’ll take a look at citrine and whether it’s safe in water. We’ll also discuss how to cleanse citrine and whether it can be used for making a crystal elixir. If you’d like to learn more about this crystal, read out guide to citrine healing properties.

Is Citrine Water Safe?

The short answer is that yes, citrine is water safe. You can wash or water-cleanse citrine without damaging it.

It’s a hard crystal that doesn’t inclusions that are affected by fluid, so water won’t crack, rust, or dissolve it. Citrine is also non-reactive and stable in water.

I still don’t recommend leaving your citrine in water for an extended period of time though (particularly if you’re using salt water.)

Long water baths could affect the stone’s appearance. Many stones sold as citrine are also actually heat-treated amethyst, which may lose its shine if left in water.

Why is Citrine Safe to Get Wet?

There are two factors that affect whether a crystal is water safe: hardness and inclusions.

Citrine is hard enough to not be damaged by water. It also doesn’t contain elements or sensitivities that are unsuitable for getting wet

Let’s take a closer look at these factors and why they are important.

A Quick Lesson on the Mohs Hardness Scale

The Mohs Hardness Scale is a useful tool for any crystal healer. It rates the hardness of minerals on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the hardest. The harder a crystal is, the less likely it is to be water soluble.

Here are a few examples:

Hardness	Examples
10	Diamond
9	Ruby, Sapphire
8	Aquamarine
7	Amethyst, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Garnet, Aventurine
6	Pyrite, Hematite
5	Apatite, Rinkite, Lapis Lazuli
4	Malachite, Azurite
3	Calcite, Wulfenite, Lepidolite
2	Amber, Gypsum
1	Talc

As a general rule, crystals below six on the Mohs Hardness Scale are not safe to go in water.

Fortunately, citrine is rated seven on the Mohs Hardness scale. This makes it a safe crystal to cleanse and clean in water.

Note: While a small splash probably won’t damage softer crystals, leaving these crystals in water for long could cause damage. Instead, you should use other cleansing methods to remove negative energies, such as smudging or moonlight.

Other Factors That Can Affect Water Safety

Hard crystals won’t dissolve or crack in water, but that doesn’t mean they are always water-safe.

Some crystals contain additional minerals. These could rust or release toxic substances into the water, even if the base crystal is water-safe

Magnetite and hematite are good examples. These crystals are iron ores, so they will rust if left in water.

While citrine does contain trace amounts of iron, there is not enough to cause visible damage or discoloration when in water.

Note: Be extra careful about inclusions when using a crystal to make an elixir. Dangerous elements could leak into the water and make your elixir unsafe.

How to Cleanse a Citrine Crystal

As citrine is water safe, you can use the running water method to cleanse it.

This is a popular method for clearing negativity, as the water grounds unwanted energy back into earth. As a bonus, cleansing with running water will refresh your stone’s appearance.

Here’s how to cleanse citrine using running water:

1. Choose a location. Rivers and springs are often the best choice for cleansing. If you don’t have access to natural water sources, then a running tap can be just as effective.
2. Set your intention. Set an intention to wash away negativity from the crystal before you start cleansing. Try to stay focused on this goal during the process.
3. Hold the citrine crystal in the water flow for 2-5 minutes. The more often you cleanse a crystal, the less time you’ll need to hold it in water.
4. Gently dry the citrine stone with a soft, natural cloth.

Cleansing Crystals Without Water

Putting citrine in water shouldn’t damage it, but there are plenty of other ways to cleanse crystals if you prefer to avoid getting your stone wet. These include:

• Smudging. This involves lighting a bundle of dried sage (make sure to use a fire-proof container) and holding the gemstone in the smoke.
• Moonlight. Moonlight is much gentler than sunlight, so it’s great for stones that might fade. Place your citrine on a natural surface or directly on the earth. You can also leave it on a windowsill that will receive direct moonlight. 
• Sound. Sound vibrations remove negative energy in a stone’s molecular structure. You can use tuning forks, drums, crystal singing bowls, or any other form of sound energy for this. Just make sure you focus your intention on cleansing.

Related Article: 7 Ways to Cleanse a Healing Crystal

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Citrine Safe to Use in a Crystal Elixir?

Citrine’s bright nature is a great choice if you want an elixir to ward against negativity. It’s also often used as a crystal for luck and motivation.

Pure citrine is usually safe for charging water, as it doesn’t dissolve or contain dangerous minerals. 

As with all crystals, however, there’s a chance your citrine may contain an impurity. That’s why I recommend using the “indirect” method for making a crystal elixir, as this doesn’t expose the water to any additional elements.

1. Cleanse the citrine crystal to remove any unwanted energies.
2. Charge the crystal to restore its healing properties.
3. Place the citrine crystal inside a sealed glass jar.
4. Put the jar inside a larger bowl.
5. Fill the larger bowl with water.
6. Cover the bowl of water to keep the elixir clean, then leave it to infuse.
7. Drink the crystal water elixir soon after, unless you are going to add a preservative to prevent bacteria.

You can also buy crystal elixir water bottles with a separate container for your crystals. These make the indirect method more convenient.

Can Citrine Go in Moon Water?

Moon water is just water that’s been charged in the light of a full moon. As citrine is water-safe, it’s suitable for going in moon water.

Can Citrine Go in Salt Water?

Salt water has corrosive properties, so it’s important to be careful before using it on your crystal.

While citrine crystals won’t dissolve in salt water, I don’t recommend using this method regularly or for long periods. The salt may cause the stone to lose its shine.

Can Citrine Go in Direct Sunlight?

You shouldn’t leave citrine in direct sunlight. Sunlight causes this type of quartz crystal to fade and lose its yellow hue.

Summary

Citrine, a member of the quartz family, is a hard crystal that’s rated a seven on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This means it can be cleansed in water without damage.

A citrine stone is also suitable for making a crystal elixir, although I recommend using the indirect method in case there are impurities.

Do you have any questions about cleansing citrine in water? Please let me know in the comments section below.