Cleaning Shungite: Tips, Tricks, and Best Practices

Does Shungite Need To Be Cleaned?

We get this question all the time! Stone and crystal enthusiasts are familiar with cleaning their rocks periodically and often wonder if Shungite requires the same amount of care. Well, yes and no. While Shungite certainly benefits from cleaning, it does do its own amount of self-clearing.

Shungite’s Self-Clearing Abilities

Unlike other stones that do not have the benefit of being carbon-based, Shungite has built in within the stone, its own cleaning mechanism. The stone is able to discharge negative energies it absorbs due to its high carbon content. So, unlike other stones and crystals which are not carbon-based, Shungite is able to continually discharge the energy it absorbs. This ability to self-cleanse is what enables Shungite to be so effective in absorbing harmful energies such as artificial electromagnetic frequencies.

Benefits of Cleaning Shungite

Even though Shungite is a self-clearing stone, it does still benefit from periodic cleaning. Regular cleaning of Shungite assures that your stones are working at their optimal level for clearing negative energies. So, while it is not completely necessary to do, it is a great way to make sure your Shungite is kept fresh and ready to take on the onslaught of negative energies that exist today in our environments.

What To Avoid When Cleaning Shungite

Shungite is a delicate stone, being high in carbon makes it on the soft side, so you never want to use any type of harsh abrasives or detergents on your Shungite. Since Shungite absorbs toxins, you don’t want to use anything that is toxic to clean Shungite, as the stone will simply absorb the toxins rather than get refreshed!

Natural Methods Best

Natural methods of cleaning are always best when it comes to Shungite. The same tried and true methods used to clean crystals and stones can be used to clean Shungite.

Water Method

If using water to clean Shungite, we recommend making sure the water is filtered. If any soap is used, it is best to use a natural soap without artificial fragrances. Wash the stones gently with warm water and a light lather and rinse. This method is best used for larger pieces of Shungite, such as carved pyramids, cubes and spheres. Water cleansing refreshes the stone energetically and removes any dust and dirt that might have accumulated on it over time.

Sunlight Method

Cleaning in sunlight is a great way to refresh any stone, and Shungite is no exception. Shungite’s deep black color makes it a strong absorber of sunlight. Sunlight works to cleanse the stone of any energies that got built up and also works to re-energize it. Just like how we get energized by the sun, so does Shungite.

Using the sunlight method to clean works great for Shungite jewelry. Just lay your jewelry out in a strong spot of sun for 10-15 minutes and consider it refreshed!

Salt Method

The salt method of cleaning involves making a saltwater solution. This is as simple as placing a teaspoon of salt in a pint of warm water and letting it dissolve. We recommend using filtered water and using a natural sea or rock salt. Shungite can be submerged in the solution and then rinsed off.

We don’t recommend using the saltwater solution for any Shungite jewelry that contains other materials, as the salt could cause damage to some materials. The salt method of cleaning works best on carved pieces of Shungite and on raw nuggets of Elite Shungite.

Smudging Shungite

As odd as it may seem, smoke can be used to clean and refresh stones. Herbs such as sage, rosemary or palo santo can be lit and their smoke can be passed over the Shungite. Smudging is an age-old way of refreshing items. The smoke of certain plants is very cleansing and can be used to purify items. Smudging is a great way to clean Shungite jewelry and Shungite Tabs that are affixed to devices such as cell phones and wifi routers.

Best Practices for Care of Shungite

Shungite is a 2 billion year old stone, so it has been around for a very long time. It is a strong protector due to its amazing properties of energy absorption. Keeping your stones fresh through periodic cleaning is a great way to ensure your Shungite is able to absorb all of the negative energies it comes into contact with on a daily basis – namely EMFs.

But, remember, it is Shungite’s carbon content that makes it so effective at clearing energies. This same carbon gives Shungite a self-clearing property other stones and crystals do not have. So, for those of you who are busy and wonder when you will have the time to clean your Shungite, no need to worry – as it is self-clearing.

But, the stone will still benefit from using a natural method of cleaning every once in a while. If you ever feel as though your stones have become ‘dull’, then you know just how to perk them up again!

Want to learn more about Shungite? Visit our Shungite Studies page, or our About Shungite Stone page. We also have a convenient Shungite FAQs page.