​​How to Clean Your Gua Sha Tools, According to Pros

Carefully Wash Your Tools

The easiest way to wash your gua sha tool is by hand, Mindbody holistic wellness specialist Dani Schenone says. “Wet your hands with warm water and pour some soap onto your hands,” she says. “Create a lather and apply it to a wet gua sha tool for 30 seconds. Rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth—microfiber is great for this.”

That said, washing your gua sha with all those slippery suds can quickly go awry, so be careful. “Most of the polished gua sha stones become extremely slippery once the soap is applied, so please handle well and be mindful about this,” Yim urges. “So many people have shared their sob story of a slipped gua sha stone.”

Soak It In Water

If you have a bit more time—or if you want to avoid a drop at all costs—Farhang says that the best (and safest) way to clean a gua sha tool is by soaking it in a bowl of warm, soapy water. 

As for the soap you should use, Yim says that antibacterial liquid hand soap (like Megababe’s Squeaky Clean Antibacterial Hand Wash, $12) will do the trick. That said, you can also try washing it with your favorite facial cleanser if you’re worried about putting non-face-specific products on your gua sha tool.

Use a Brush on Its Ridges

While many gua sha tools feature curved edges, some have prongs like a comb. “If your tool has tight ridges or a comb aspect, you’ll want to use a small brush (like a toothbrush) to clean in between those ridges where oil and debris build-up can be found,” Yim says. 

Be Mindful of Its Material

What your gua sha tool is made of plays a role in how often you need to clean it. “The more porous the material, the more often it needs to be cleaned,” Farhang says. “Metals—like silver and copper—are the least porous but not very commonly used [for gua sha tools]. Good-quality stones such as jade and rose quartz are non-porous which allows a little room for error if a wash is skipped.”

In addition to making cleaning less of a stressor, she points out that these stones offer more glide, which means that more product will be absorbed into the skin, rather than into the tool the way other porous materials allow. “Wooden gua sha tools tend to be porous and may be more difficult to clean,” she adds.

"If you have a wooden gua sha tool, you should oil it after each wash, like you would a good wooden cutting board,” Yim says, warning that the wood will eventually crack with each wash if not lubricated. 

Commit to Daily Rinses

Even if the material your gua sha tool is made out of is less porous, Yim says it’s worthwhile to get in the practice of regular cleaning. “Immediately after each use is best,” she says. “The longer the tool sits with facial oils and other products on it, the greater opportunity for an adhesive film to develop on the tool.” It’s this residue that can absorb into the tool and potentially lead to skin irritation.

Spritz It With Alcohol

If you’re particularly concerned about acne-causing bacteria lingering on your gua sha, Schenone says that you can add alcohol to your sanitizing routine. “If you want an added layer of cleanliness, spray some alcohol disinfectant to your tool once it is completely dry,” she says. Doing so will eliminate any residual bacteria.