Make sure you have identified your material properly before cleaning. Some materials will dissolve if soaked in an Iron Out bath. Others will lose their luster. I always suggest not soaking your material if you don't need to. Our favorite (and home site) material - Herkimer Diamond var. Quartz - usually only needs to be washed with soap and water (I use dish soap) and my favorite cleaning tool - the Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber - sold at Target for $21.99.
If your stones do have an iron, magnetite, or other mineral coating that cannot be removed with soap and water, the most common crystal cleaning solution is Iron Out in Water. You can soak your crystals in a solution of 1/3c iron out powder per every 5 gallons of water, dissolved (be mindful - only mix your iron out solution outdoors, as it causes a strong chemical odor. Also, do not get it directly on your skin, use rubber gloves). Once the coating falls off or can be brushed off, and you are done with the iron bath, pour in a generous amount of baking soda to deactivate the iron out. Soak specimens in water for the same amount of time that they soaked in the Iron Out. Wash with soap and water once soaks are complete.
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