What’s the BEST Way to Clean your Rocks? | Trying 2 Popular Methods!

With so many rock cleaning methods, it can be hard to know what is the best rock cleaning method? In this video, I test two method using vinegar, water, and dish soap, as well as water and citric acid. I was surprised with results! Here’s how to use both methods:
Citric Acid
1. Fill container with rocks and HOT water.
2. For every cup of water, add one tablespoon of citric acid.
3. Mix the solution around until dissolved.
4. Stir, shake, or swirl every few hours.
5. Let sit for 1-3 days.
6. Rinse off rocks and add back to container.
7. Fill the container with hot water and add baking soda. For example: if you added 2 tbsp of citric acid originally, add 2 tbsp of baking soda.
8. Stir until baking soda is dissolved.
9. Rinse and you’re done! 😊
Watch my detailed video on using the vinegar method for river scum: How to Clean Rocks and Minerals
• How to Clean Rocks and...
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Happy Hounding!

[@nadinefox5068]

If u use the vinegar full strength u will be pleasantly surprised! I do leave mine in sometimes for weeks, crystals and quartz mainly, it's how I discovered agate actually!! Buncha plain rocks, so I thought, dumped vinegar in the sheet pan and forgot about them for probably 2wks and when I went to check them...WOW! talk about thrilled! It does eat rock and if u do leave rocks in it for long periods they slowly disintegrate. But works fantastic on quartz and agate and even jasper and others I'm unsure what they are. Anyway thought I'd share that. Oh the vinegar works better than iron out, for me at least. Thanks for your videos and experiments!! Really very cool and informative. Not to mention it makes me feel less weird for being a fanatical rockhound!! Can't seem to walk anywhere without looking down! Lol and digging in driveways down to the old original rocks they used on roads, boy the beauties I've found that way!! Did u know most dirt won't really stick on crystals!? Interesting observation I've made. Peace and ROCK ON!!

[@AgateAriel]

That is so awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@tarafowler3930]

Thank you for the tips!

[@cespool]

About 25 years ago some members of my family tried cleaning rocks using all kinds of methods. My uncles mom, in her mid 80's at the time showed everyone up. She boiled the rocks in Cream of Tartar. After they dried the residue brushed off with a soft toothbrush. It was amazing how clean they were. It may be a fun experiment for you.

[@AgateAriel]

That is so interesting! Do you know how much she put in? I’m interested in trying that for sure!

[@cespool]

@@AgateAriel I can't remember. She only had one of those small seasoning jars. So it couldn't have been more than a tablespoon. I know she boiled them for only 2 or 3 hours.

[@AgateAriel]

I will have to look around online to see what I can find about it! Definitely very interesting!

[@cespool]

@@AgateAriel you should be able to find it at the grocery store in the seasoning isle. I know McCormick has one.

[@CityRockhounding]

What a great idea, I will have to try this!!!! What a cool tip.

[@cobeycobb]

Thanks for doing this side by side. Super helpful

[@AgateAriel]

Of course! Glad it helped!

[@jaquelinepaul7384]

You have a really nice voice to listen to I have only watched a couple of your videos I’ve enjoyed them thoroughly from beginning to end ☺️

[@AgateAriel]

Well thank you! 😊

[@clentonweston8839]

Thank you again for this info...your the best! Please 🙏 keep these videos coming.

[@AgateAriel]

Of course! Glad it was helpful for you!

[@charlesshipp]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. I just found your channel a few days ago and I’m loving it!

[@AgateAriel]

Awesome! Thank you so much! 😊

[@GREEKEXPLORERS]

Amazing video Ariel, thank you for sharing!!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@weirdhousewivesclub]

I have a ton of rocks needing cleaning that this might be the trick for, I need to find a method though for the ones I don't want to have the acid eat away at, thanks for sharing!

[@tinaharvey356]

I love watching you . I have collected a lot so far but not used my tumbler yet

[@AgateAriel]

That is awesome! Thank you so much! 😊

[@apachisa25]

Thanks for the the video, very informative 👍

[@capcloud]

Your videos are very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[@AgateAriel]

Thanks for watching!

[@Mote.]

I'm finally doing my first rock tumble ever. I got a rock tumbler this recent Christmas. Now I'm going through all my rock collection to choose some for next time

[@AgateAriel]

That’s awesome! I hope they turn out great!

[@CityRockhounding]

Awesome video, great information about both cleaning processes. I think I will use the citric acid method, but make sure I cleaning the right type of rocks. Thanks for the video. Someone left a comment below about boiling with cream of tartar, I'm willing to try that too.

[@AgateAriel]

Right! I’m definitely interested in trying that as well!

[@greenwolffe]

Thank you. That was interesting. What got me to watch the video was the mention of vinegar. I find a lot of cool stones in & near the limerock road I live on. But many are partially encased in limestone. I soak them in 30% vinegar for several days to "liberate" the hard rock inside. The vinegar dissolves the calcium carbonate, producing carbon dioxide bubbles, a salt of calcium acetate, and water (base + acid = water + a salt). The results are impressive. "Kitchen" vinegar works, too, but it's slow (being only 5% strength). The 30% stuff can be found in big stores in the lawn & garden area, as it is often used as a weed-killer.

[@wanderingwithmeatball]

I am loving your channel! I can’t wait to have time to watch more! I just put a bunch in a bucket of just straight white vinegar and I’m excited to see what comes of it. But after watching this, I want to put some in citric acid too! Thank you! That’s a much better idea, especially since you can better control the acidity with the citric acid. I have a couple huge chunks that seem to be mostly calcium citrate and I’m hoping to find some amethyst in them!

[@AgateAriel]

Oh that is awesome! I hope they turn out well! When using straight vinegar your rocks may end up with a white cast, if they do don’t panic. Use a microfiber towel and some mineral or baby oil and the white cast will go away. 😊

[@nadinefox5068]

Stick with the vinegar! For real! Works beautifully

[@Its-Always-Vefa]

thank u so much i tried Vinegar and Dish soap it looks so better THANKS YOU!!!!!❤🥰

[@daleblank6791]

Love the videos, great info for a beginner like me. Quick question, which filler should I start with, Ceramic or Plastic for my dual barrel tumbler?

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! I think either works! I have heard that plastic pellets can be better for the polishing stage though 😊

[@billmadle1235]

It was really interesting watching your video

[@AgateAriel]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@danahansen5651]

Great video. I've discovered than an ultrasonic cleaner with simple green cleaner works great!

[@AgateAriel]

Oh interesting!! That is definitely something I’d like to try!

[@DavidHands]

Cool video. I use Wooden Deck Cleaner to remove dirt and rock from stones. Deck Cleaner is Oxalic acid which is pretty strong. I put the stones and acid in a dark plastic container in a ventilated place that gets sun during the day and leave it for a week. To do it faster I sometimes sit the acid container inside a metal container of water heated by a camping stove.

[@AgateAriel]

I might have to try that!

[@roneelbai4525]

Thanks for video education, i like it

[@AgateAriel]

Of course! 😊

[@IveGotStones]

Great video Ariel, the softer ones that are getting eaten away I believe are calcite, or have calcite in them, I have a lot of calcite crystals attached to the fire agates I dig up, I'll stick them in muriatic acid if i want to dissolve them away, that's why I'm thinking clacite, again, loved the video.

[@AgateAriel]

Yes that is what I’ve heard! I definitely agree that I think it’s calcite!

[@infamousbanter]

Thanks for the vid..

[@jenhofmann]

This is cool! Thanks dude sharing. One thing to note is that soap is a base and vinegar an acid, so combining them makes a neutral (or at least less acidic) solution. It would be interesting to run this again with a control (no acid) and put vinegar against citric acid.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh good to know! Yes I might have to do that!!

[@bjvoorhies]

I'd bet you used "detergent" not "soap". Again a chemistry issue caused by imprecise English. Not very "scientific".

[@kelcritcarroll]

I love your floor by the way!😁😆

[@christinagarcia5010]

Using vinegars dissolve the calcite in rocks if you leave them there for A week or two

[@joch4973]

I recommend leaving them in the vinegar solution for about a week. It’s a slow cleaning method, but it works.

[@AgateAriel]

I may have to try that out some time!

[@gregderksen1996]

i’ve taken to just hot water and dish soap first. make a mistake once where i had a rock with veins of calcite running throughout and vinegar just ate it away. might just have to find me some citric acid now! Thanks Ariel!

[@AgateAriel]

Yes that can definitely stink when it eats away at the rock! Calcite is very sensitive to acid so the best method if you want to keep the calcite is plain soap and water! 😊

[@johnkelly9451]

Citric acid works great in toilet tank for hard mineral deposits, especially lime mineral deposits...vinegar works good too wet a paper towel and leave overnight takes lime deposits from around faucets....so, agree with others about it reacting with limestone...great channel...ty!

[@AgateAriel]

Definitely! Thanks for watching!

[@comixguru]

Thanks for your video! i just started using citric acid to clean my rocks and found the same thing- that the citric acid will start to eat away at softer rocks. Very interesting!

[@AgateAriel]

Yes it works great for rocks that are around a 7 or more for hardness but softer stones seem to get eaten away!

[@adrhianna]

Tumble them alllllll!!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@goldengolfpencil]

I used both

[@cherylpilcher6960]

Thank you for showing this but how do you rock tumble with the Nat Geo one

[@saurabhsalot5872]

Hi, Can you guide what is the best way to clean quartz crystal?

[@truckerenoch8824]

Soft chalky minerals are common to find on and around chert and flint. Also, citric and oxalic acid will leave a whitish powdery residue on your rocks. As long as you don't over soak them it should come off pretty easy with a nylon detailing brush that you find in most automotive isles. Microfiber clothes work well too. I think the residue is the acid, but because citric and oxalic acids are both oxidizers, I haven't ruled that some of it might be mineral oxides from minerals present in the rocks. The acid will definitely etch into calcium bearing rocks like limestone. Some limestone will even bubble and etch in plain water.

[@AgateAriel]

Wow thank you for the tips! It’s crazy the types of reactions certain chemicals can have on rocks!

[@dod180]

It can also oxidize some metal's as well leaving brown red blue and green tints to your roks. I had a batch with a lot of copper in it and got lots of gorgeous greens and blues

[@truckerenoch8824]

@@dod180 Yep. Sounds like you made some tenorite. In Michigan's upper peninsula, they take pieces of flat melted copper and soak them, then polish the tops leaving the tenorite (cupric acid) in the valleys and polished copper on the peaks. The contrast is stunning!

[@MNpicker]

So many different ways to clean rocks.. it's all well worth it.. they look so much better clean👍. I do like the citric acid method..but definitely not for limestone 😁

[@AgateAriel]

So true! I do really like how they turned out. Also totally agree, not for limestone! 😅

[@tinadaniels3655]

You are absolutely ADORABLE!! Thank you for the info!!!!

[@AgateAriel]

Of course!!

[@gatchrocks]

I'm pretty sure the most popular way to clean rocks is by licking them.

[@AgateAriel]

🤣🤣🤣

[@kikiwilson9871]

I clean my windows the same way

[@elizabethlewis3509]

Scrubbing with a brush would be your next step to notice which batch cleans easier. Big vinegar and baking soda fan. Will look into citric acid method as well.

[@AgateAriel]

Yes definitely! Scrubbing helps immensely with the cleaning process!

[@victorenache3927]

Amazing video , good tips for cleaning rocks , i use muriatic acid 32 concentration solution , i find it doing a way better cleaning , after leaving for 24 hours i put solution back in a bottle for next use and rinse the rocks with water and put some backing soda for 24 hours. Keep on doing ;)

[@AgateAriel]

Great idea! I haven’t used the muriatic acid before but definitely something I want to try in the future!

[@tezirkle47]

I also collect shells. The best way to clean them is with muratic acid because it dissolves the calcite deposits the ocean leaves on the shells & hides their true colors. It is kinda scary b/c of the chemicals, a lot of safety precautions are neccessary. I really want to see if it cleans rocks the same way, even if there's no calcite.

[@stewartbonner]

If the culvert is on the raw side of a outcropping you should also collect the sand and small pebbles in the culvert furrow troughs, pan it. Could start a gold collection as default byproduct .

[@bjvoorhies]

The water may be a different color because "just rocks" are not "just rocks" - there may be very different minerals - by chance alone - in each bottle. As you pointed out. Different chemistry - different color.

[@AgateAriel]

Yes that is very true! For a true test I’d have to cut each rock in half or something 😅

[@BlueNJazzy]

I’m trying a cheap sewing hack-using rocks as weights. And wondering how to clean the rocks well. I just took a large on into the dishwasher. I’ll see how that works.

[@sherrilynnnelson703]

I'm kinda scared about going into culverts and picking up random things!! You are BRAVE lol maybe I lived in the city for too long... 😅 Anyway you've inspired me but I definitely want some waterproof gloves like yours!! 🧤😁🚿

[@AgateAriel]

Haha yes the waterproof gloves are a must! 😅

[@Mote.]

You are cool. Nice videos

[@SpiritWarriorTim]

Should I clean my rocks before tumbling?

[@kirbycraft9325]

Yea, don't put things like limestone or especially fossil coral in C.A., it will really eat them up. I found out the hard way too. By the way, agates clean up within a few hours in citric acid, and the solution can be reused several times for agates alone. Just keep the solution at room temperature. Good comparison video.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh awesome thanks for the tips! Good to know I can reuse it too! 😊

[@haze19931]

Can i use lemon juice?

[@samanthag8279]

Hi, your videos are amazing especially for a newbie young rock tumbler like me. I had a few questions about rock tumbling that I hope you could answer... you seem very knowledgeable on the subject and way more experienced than me lol 1. if I can't move my rocks right from step 1 to step 2 can they sit for a couple days if I wash the slurry off and pick back up to start step 2 when I get back from a trip (cause step 1 will be done but I can't start step 2 cause I won't be home in time to take them out)?? 2. are you allowed to check on your rocks (in stage 1) once you started tumbling them to make sure they are making progress and the barrel isn't too full or does that ruin the process?? THANK U sry these are long and specific lol

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you so much! As for your question, yes you can leave the rocks out while waiting for step two. If you leave them out dry make absolutely sure there is no grit in any cracks. Usually I just keep mine in plain water because I’m always nervous for cracks 😅 and yes I peek in the barrel too sometimes! 😊

[@samanthag8279]

@@AgateAriel perfect! Thanks so much for the helpful response I will definitely be taking your advice!🙂☄️

[@beverlyobrien7954]

Ariel is right on. If there is any sludge at all left on the rocks and they dry, 18:30 18:30 getting it off is close to impossible, so rinse the grit off and keep your rocks in clear water until you come back and can start the next stage. Also, between stages add a teaspoon or so of grated ivory soap to your barrel of rocks with appropriate amount of water and run it for several hours. You'll be surprised at how much grit remained even after you rinsed them.

[@imhappyhippy]

I wonder if it would speed up the rock tumbling process if you were to use vinegar instead water with the grit in the first couple cycles?

[@AgateAriel]

Maybe!

[@rockingontheridge1734]

I use peroxide for cleaning my arrowhead overnight works just fine

[@xseption]

I've never heard of those two methods. I mostly hear about Borax and muriatic acid. Have you tried either one?

[@AgateAriel]

I haven’t actually! I have used borax for cleaning in between tumbling cycles though.

[@absurdnerd7624]

I was wondering about just tumbling them for a few hours in plain hot water, with perhaps some builders sand or baking soda.

[@AgateAriel]

That might be a fun idea!

[@anotherhobby4670]

I've got some rocks sitting in a vinegar mixture to clean right now and it's become a glittering swirl inside the jar

[@kelcritcarroll]

I said in another comment I loved your floor then heard u say you made a mess on your counter……so I love your counter!

[@mistymangham4410]

I'm so new to rockhounding I was wondering if you could clean rocks with Mountain Dew? Or any other soda with Citric Acid in it. Just curious.

[@AgateAriel]

Haha I’m actually not sure! Might put it on the list to try in the future! 🤣

[@mistymangham4410]

@@AgateAriel I was just thinking about it because I've seen life hacks where they clean toilets with it. So, it might work. I dunno.

[@Ashley__Rose]

Do these mixtures ever help with iron stains? Have you ever used oxalic acid before for that? I have a citrine cluster I want some iron staining to come out of.

[@AgateAriel]

I don’t think they help much with iron! For that, I’d try iron out!

[@Ashley__Rose]

@@AgateAriel thank you just ordered some on Amazon 🙂

[@mitchgillilan]

I found out citric acid cleans what I call "creek scum" off of harder rocks (agates jasper quartz) really well! Not sure its a good idea to use some of this stuff on softer rocks as it will probably disolve them as you found out lol

[@AgateAriel]

Agreed! Yes I definitely learned! 🙈 Works great for harder rocks like you said though!

[@tinaperez7606]

Hi, I was wondering the necessity of neutralizing the cleaning solutions. Is it for the user's protection? Also, wanted to mention using a grease pencil to label your jars. Writes really well on glass. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@user-sj4np3sj6l]

Ariel, Is there any way to get the black mold? off of rocks?.. boulders? I am trying to clean large rocks to surround my front area. I've put them in vinegar for days... I put bleach on some .. and I've powerwashed them multiple times. Still cannot remove the black stuff. Thank you!

[@AgateAriel]

I’m not sure on that one! Sorry!

[@greenwolffe]

Are you sure it's actually mold? Some mineral inclusions can present an organic appearance. I have some granite-like rocks that appear to have algae growing on them. But it's not. I believe it may be malachite. Can you scratch or scrape the black areas with a pocket knife? If they don't scratch, then they are likely just areas of a darker mineral.

[@jeanettecooper1582]

Rocks with a silicate base will not dissolve in acids but rocks with a calcium base will.

[@truckerenoch8824]

Oxalic acid works good, but *_resist_* the urge to mix it stronger than suggested, or to soak it for longer than suggested! It can leave a crusty film on your rocks that is very difficult to clean.

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! That’s really good to know!

[@doubledragon9530]

I'm guessing you got less reaction from the citric acid batches because the acid reacted with the calcium carbonate and neutralized during the process. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate aka sodium of carbonate, so it neutralizes acid the same way calcium carbonate does...

[@AgateAriel]

Oh wow good to know! Thank you!

[@nadinefox5068]

I've seen people use the lysol toilet bowl cleaner (hydrochloric acid I believe) saying it actually will polish them but I really wasn't to impressed plus nasty chemical. I stick with full strength vinegar either kind

[@TooLooseLeTrek]

Using a brush to loosen caked dirt? How about a quick scrub before adding the solutions?

[@AgateAriel]

That definitely would help!

[@Kingywthethird]

Can you do a giveaway for the stones?

[@BonesFPV]

Cool experiment. Also, you have lovely eyes.

[@kermann-bv8um]

Borax is helpful

[@AgateAriel]

Yes!! I haven’t tried that method yet but definitely will give it a shot one day! 😊

[@philkipnis740]

Yow are so incredibly adorable I might develop an interest in rocks, especially from a nutty married geologist

[@tomokovlog8567]

Fun Fact; Vinager is an acid and dish soap is a base, so you actually made a weaker acid

[@AgateAriel]

Oh good to know!

[@reyrosas5527]

What if i used muriatic acid

[@AgateAriel]

That works too!

[@christopherort2889]

The softer ones may be limestones

[@matthewwusinich5181]

Mason jars by their nature will allow gases to escape. Their seal comes from when the contents of the jar cool off and the air begins to compress which creates a vacuum seal on the lip of the jar. Now, if you screw the lid on super tight, you might have problems.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh good to know-thank you!

[@gccg3646]

I clean it with a stiff toothbrush and water only.

[@gatchrocks]

How many times does one have to run a batch of rocks in a tumbler with borax and water before the water runs clear afterwards? That's the experiment I want to see.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh I like it! Good idea!

[@gatchrocks]

@@AgateAriel I've been trying after a stage 1 tumble, but i've yet to see it come clear, even after a few with borax and a few spins with just water after that. I think it's just making new dust each time, as it's the ceramic pieces I'm testing it out on.

[@keithwatson8228]

You're so funny. You remind me of the band chick on American Pie.

[@AgateAriel]

Haha thanks!

[@keithwatson8228]

@@AgateAriel 😍

[@rickymchone1754]

You gotta look around waterfalls

[@AgateAriel]

I wish I had those here!

[@tk429]

Ultrasonic cleaner FTW

[@AgateAriel]

I bought one a while back and really like it!

[@mikeames1427]

Have you tried diet Sprite?

[@AgateAriel]

I haven’t! May be a fun experiment!

[@pascalkuipers8099]

I am grumpy right now there is no good morning 😕

[@blublood8blutears]

Try peroxide.

[@stephenmacpherson3754]

I think you're eating away limestone, calcium, etc. Because from what little I recall from hich school chemistry in the early 90s, the calcium and lime will be broken down by both chemicals

[@AgateAriel]

Yes these chemical both eat away at calcium I learned!

[@TheMTL1011]

I saw a seashell in the bucket of rocks😮

[@AgateAriel]

Whatt?!? I missed it?!

[@carollowe3704]

scientific method would not be happy that you changed the variables part-way through (top off on one, but not the other). results are skewed because you can't verify that it is the solution, and not the introduction of oxygen to allow/increase the rate of "cleaning" because that may have been the case with the vinegar one also. thanks for showing a practical application. it's all about the exploration! :)

[@AgateAriel]

Oh that’s a very good point actually!! I guess we will never know for sure! 🧐😅

[@MarkRusselll]

Put them in boiling vinegar!

[@AgateAriel]

Oh I’ve never tried that-might have to give it a shot!

[@Watcherrye]

Super dirty girls ROCKS!!!!!!!! Ma'am if you know chemistry, you know that a acid neutralizes a base, and a base neutralizes a Acid. Soap is a base, Vinegar is an Acid. When you added the soap to the vinegar it neutralizes .

[@LAXPLANESPOTTER]

What’s the BEST Way to Clean your Rocks? I USE SOAP and a wash cloth. hahahahah

[@AgateAriel]

Haha that can work too! 🤣

[@LAXPLANESPOTTER]

@@AgateAriel AWESOME REPLY.. you are a wonderful woman..good happy personality.. love that.. hugs

[@kmlumd44]

Make a follow up video about how to watch paint dry

[@AgateAriel]

I think there’s really only one way to do that! 🤣

[@kmlumd44]

@@AgateAriel and hows that?!

[@prototype9000]

You didnt add enough citric acid the acids should be measured by molar density to have a fair comparison

[@AgateAriel]

Oh good to know! How do you measure it that way?

[@prototype9000]

@@AgateAriel therrd tutorials and can use a molarity mass calculator or do it the old fashioned way solve using formulas

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

If it not a mineral you only have a rock..

[@danphelps3583]

PLEASE!!! With very rare exceptions, NEVER use acid on fossils. You could destroy important details.

[@AgateAriel]

Yes!! I definitely have heard that and do not want to ruin any fossils!

[@infamousbanter]

🧐 You seem you are "down to earth" & cute to boot.. lbs 🤭😏🤷‍♂️

[@LouinVB]

"Carnelian, agate, chalcedony", it's all microcrystalline quartz of the same hardness. LOL.

[@danm9390]

I had a whole different interpretation about “cleaning your rocks”.

[@gator83261]

Want to like your channel, but the jump shots are overdone. I’m sure other people just love it…

[@stephenRexregumhoos]

You're literally dissolving the rocks when you use an acid. That's not exactly a method I would use. I'm going to go the exact opposite route and use lye, and let you know how it goes

[@robertharrison1775]

Neither one.

[@AgateAriel]

I’d love to hear a better method to try! What do you do?