Lapis Lazuli is a soft rock which comes in a range of color. Some of these beautiful stones are dyed or impregnated with wax to create the vibrant color.
This means that when you clean your Lapis Lazuli stones, you will need to be careful not to rub any of the color or luster off.
One of the best cleaning methods for gemstones is putting the Lapis Lazuli into warm, soapy water. But there are also a few other ways to keep your gemstones clean.
In this article, we explore how to clean and cleanse your Lapis Lazuli stones.
How To Clean Lapis Lazuli Gemstones
Lapis Lazuli is a soft stone which requires gentle cleaning without any abrasive brushes or cleaning solutions.
As it is made of compounds that decay very quickly, you can only clean Lapis Lazuli with mild soap or carefully with salt.
When it comes to cleaning this delicate gemstone, you will need to be very careful.
While you want to remove any oils, skin or sweat that’s stuck to your Lapis Lazuli jewelry, cleaning the stones too heavily could end up damaging the Lapis Lazuli.
Cleaning Lapis Lazuli With Mild Soap
Cleaning your Lapis Lazuli gemstones with mild soap is the best way to remove any dirt from your stones.
Prepare The Water Bath
Simply fill a shallow bowl with lukewarm water and put some mild soap into the water. Alternatively, you can also use diluted jewelry cleaner.
Almost anything that isn’t acidic is good to use for cleansing gemstones. Just make sure that the water is room-temperature. Too hot water could damage the delicate stones.
Try Cleaning A Small Area
While this may be difficult with very small stones, it’s always best to try cleaning a small area of Lapis Lazuli first.
Many gemstones are covered in dye, wax or oil which come off when they come into contact with water or other liquids.
Lapis Lazuli dye can be rubbed off with nail polish remover or any product that contains acetone.
That’s why, many gemstones are also sealed with a plastic or wax coat. Saying this, wax sealers will deteriorate over time.
Whether your stone’s sealant is still intact or not, make sure you clean a tiny area of your stones first before you set to work on the whole Lapis Lazuli surface (see also, ‘What is Lapis Lazuli Used for?).
Gently Clean The Stone With A Cloth
Once you are sure that your Lapis Lazuli is fine to be cleaned, dip the stone into water briefly and then gently rub it with a soft, smoother microfiber cloth.
It’s important that you don’t use an abrasive cloth as this could scratch the surface of the stone.
Ensure that you don’t keep your Lapis Lazuli in the water for too long. This type of gemstone can dissolve in water over time, so the less contact it has with water, the better.
Dry Lapis Lazuli Thoroughly After Cleaning
Make sure that you dry your Lapis Lazuli stones as soon as you cleaned them. Take a dry cloth and gently rub the excess water away.
Cleaning Lapis Lazuli With Salt
Another way to clean your Lapis Lazuli is by gently and carefully using salt. This is not recommended for any gemstones that don’t have a wax-sealed surface.
Salt is one of the essential ingredients in the creation of minerals and gemstones but it’s also very abrasive.
This means that when you use it to clean your Lapis Lazuli jewelry, it may damage the stones if you are not careful.
If you don’t want to use salt as a direct cleanser, then you can also put some salt near Lapis Lazuli to cleanse your stones energetically.
How To Clean Lapis Lazuli Energetically
In order to use your Lapis Lazuli stones for the best energetic results, you will need to charge and cleanse your crystals (see also ‘What Crystals Cannot be Together‘).
There are a few different ways that you can use to cleanse and then charge your Lapis Lazuli, including full moonlight bathing, sage smudging (see also ‘What Does Sage Smell Like‘) or hematite crystals.
Bathe Your Lapis Lazuli In The Light Of The Full Moon
Just leave your Lapis Lazuli stones out on the window sill when there is a clear full moon out. This will cleanse the stones’ energy and charge them for your rituals.
But remember to take your gemstones away from the window sill when the sun comes out as sunlight could damage the delicate stones.
Sage Smudge Sticks
Sage is a great cleansing herb. You can use dried sage leaves tied together in a smudge stick. Just burn the sage stick and make sure to hold the Lapis Lazuli stones into the smoke.
Hematite Crystals
Hematite crystals are cleansing crystals. When you place your Lapis Lazuli next to these cleansing stones, then they will absorb the old energy and cleanse your Lapis.
What To Avoid When Cleaning Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli is a sensitive stone, so you need to be very careful when you want to clean it. Here are a few things that you should avoid.
Don’t Use Any Abrasive Solutions
With the sensitive and porous surface of Lapis Lazuli, you need to ensure that your stone doesn’t come into contact with any type of abrasive solution, such as chemical cleaners.
You can use diluted jewelry cleaner or other non-acidic solutions but make sure to test a small area of the stone first.
Avoid Hot Water
When Lapis Lazuli comes in contact with water, then it will dissolve over time. Hot water can break down the compounds of the stone, damaging your gemstone.
That’s why, it’s essential that you only use lukewarm water and ensure you don’t leave your Lapis Lazuli in water (find out more here, ‘Can Lapis Lazuli Go in Water?‘).
Avoid Abrasive Cloths
Even if your gemstones are extremely dirty, you should only use a soft cloth to rub the excess water off your Lapis Lazuli.
Abrasive cloths or towels may damage the stone and scratch the surface.
Final Thoughts
Lapis Lazuli is not very difficult to clean. All you need is some lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth.
Hi, my name is Andrea Daehma and I have been collecting and using crystals in my everyday life for just over six years now.
I have my own collection of crystals gracing my house, several for every scenario I could think of.
Learning about crystals has truly changed my life, and I want to help others turn their life around too. Please enjoy my website and find your own small stone to begin your crystal journey with!
