How to Clean a Gua Sha

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 4, 2022 References

Gua shas are a great tool for improving lymphatic drainage and circulating good energy throughout your entire body. To keep your skin looking its best, avoid bacterial build up, and maximize the spiritual benefits of your gua sha, it’s a good idea to clean it regularly with antibacterial soap and a bowl of warm water. You can also use a variety of methods to cleanse the tool of negative energy and recharge it so it leaves you feeling relaxed and refreshed each time you use it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Your Gua Sha

1
Add 2-3 drops of antibacterial hand soap or face wash to the gua sha. While a scentless antibacterial hand soap is ideal to use, you can use a few drops of your face wash if you have sensitive skin.^{[1]
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Use warm water to start a lather with your hands. With your clean hands, begin washing the gua sha tool, being sure to work the soap around the edges of the tool. ^{[2]
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3
Rinse and dry the gua sha. Once scrubbed clean, run your gua sha under warm water to get rid of the remaining suds. Use a microfiber towel to dry your gua sha, making sure to reach between any ridges and prongs.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Preventing Bacteria

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Wipe your gua sha with a microfiber towel. Before and after using your gua sha tool, use a microfiber cloth to wipe off any excess oils. This will ensure that any leftover facial oils or cleansers aren’t sitting on your tool after you put it away, potentially causing bacteria growth.^{[4]
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2
Sanitize your gua sha tool after every use. Once you finish using your gua sha tool you can quickly sanitize it by adding 1-2 drops of rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and rubbing it all over the tool. ^{[5]
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3
Allow your gua sha tool to soak for a deeper clean. Fill a clean bowl with warm water and 2-3 drops of antibacterial soap. Stir the water with your hands slightly to create suds and place the gua sha tool in the soap bath, allowing it to soak for 10 minutes. You can use a clean, unused toothbrush to scrub the gua sha and remove any excess oils that may have built up on the tool. Dry the gua sha with a towel and store it in a dry place until you use it again.^{[6]
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- Avoid soaking wooden gua sha tools. Sitting in warm water for too long can cause wood to become brittle and break or expand and mold. Try using a microfiber towel or sanitizing it with rubbing alcohol as a daily cleansing routine.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Recharging Crystal Gua Shas

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Cleanse it with salt water. Use ocean water or a mix of table salt and tap water to clear the negative energies away from your gemstone gua sha. Leave the gua sha in the salt water bath for 1-2 minutes before removing it, rinsing it with fresh water, and disposing of the salt water.^{[7]
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- It’s important to dispose of the salt water after cleansing your gua sha; it is now filled with the negative energy it removed from the crystal and should not be used again.^{[8]
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2
Recharge your gua sha in the moonlight. Place your gua sha tool on a windowsill, porch, or table in the light of a full moon overnight, allowing the tool to take on the energy of the moon.^{[9]
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3
Cleanse and charge at the same time with sunlight. Even on a cloudy day, you can use natural sunlight to clear your crystal gua sha of negative energy and recharge it. Leave your gua sha on a windowsill in direct sunlight for about 30 minutes. Be careful not to leave it in the sunlight for too long, as doing so can bleach the color of the gua sha.^{[10]
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Warnings

In addition to avoiding soaking a wooden gua sha tool, be sure to dry it thoroughly after cleaning with water. You can also treat wooden tools with 1-2 drops of tung oil to help preserve the integrity of the wood.^{[11]
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