There are 8 known ways to remove spirits and ghosts from your home. These techniques have been tried and tested by many over the years, but as with anything supernatural, there’s always an element of uncertainty. Plus, there is one unique situation when the clearing attempts won’t work—and trust me, that’s a headache no one wants. I’ll explain after the jump.

In most cases, you can clear your home of spirits and ghosts using these methods:

1. Negotiating
2. Holy Water
3. Haunted Object Removal
4. Spiritual Cleansing
5. Smudging
6. White Candle Clearing
7. Feng Shui
8. Rice + Salt

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of each technique, let’s address the one situation that just can’t be fixed—residual hauntings.

The Exception: Residual Hauntings

Residual hauntings are echoes from the past. Think of them like a replay on a loop—a scene that’s burned into the environment, replaying itself over and over again. There’s no sentient spirit behind it; it’s just a recording. For example, you might hear footsteps walking up and down the stairs every night at 2 a.m., or see an image of someone repeatedly passing by a window. No interaction, no awareness—just a snippet of time stuck in playback mode.

Unfortunately, the eight techniques below won’t work on residual hauntings. The good news? Over time, the energy tends to weaken, and eventually, the replay will fade. Until then, you might just have to live with it. Not ideal, but at least it’s not dangerous.

1. Negotiating

Believe it or not, you can talk a spirit into leaving your home. This works best with intelligent hauntings—the kind where there’s an actual spirit, aware of its surroundings, causing trouble. You, as the living person, have more power than you might think. Simply speaking to the spirit with respect can go a long way. Remember, this was once a living person, so a little kindness can make all the difference.

Say something like, “I understand this was your home, but it’s time for you to find peace and move on.” Be firm but empathetic. Set your boundaries. Just a heads-up: Negotiation doesn’t work on elementals, fairies, demons, or poltergeists. They’re in a league of their own, and human reasoning just doesn’t cut it.

2. Holy Water

Holy water is a classic tool for a reason. We haven’t personally used it to clear a spirit, but from our research, it’s effective when used with full conviction. To use holy water, fill a small container, dip your fingertips in, and make a cross on every door in your home—front doors, room doors, even closet doors. As you do this, say a prayer that calls on your god(s) to remove the spirit. The key here is belief. Without genuine faith, this technique loses its power.

For those wondering where to get holy water, most churches can provide it. Just ask—nicely, of course.

3. Haunted Object Removal

Sometimes, it’s not the house that’s haunted—it’s an object. Maybe it’s that creepy doll in the attic or an antique mirror that’s been giving off bad vibes. Removing the haunted object can often solve the problem. We’ve covered this topic in more detail in our post on Haunted Objects and Remedies, but the gist is: Identify the object, remove it from your space, and ideally, get rid of it entirely. If you can’t bring yourself to destroy it, at least store it far away from your living quarters.

4. Spiritual Cleansing

A member of the clergy can help with a spiritual cleansing, but if that feels too formal, there are other options. You can bring religious items to your church and have them blessed—crosses, medallions, whatever resonates with you. Then, place these blessed items in the rooms with the most activity. Fair warning: This can drive the spirit to other parts of the house. If you’re not careful, you’ll just end up playing a spooky game of hide-and-seek. It might be worth considering having the entire house blessed in one go.

5. Smudging

Smudging isn’t tied to any particular religion—anyone can do it. You’ll need a smudge stick (sage and sweetgrass work well) or sage incense. Light the smudging stick and let it burn for a few seconds before blowing it out—it’s the smoke that does the clearing, not the flame. Walk through your home, making sure to get the smoke into every corner of every room. Open a window in each room as you go; the spirit needs an exit.

As you move, say something like, “This smoke clears the spirit, ghost, and negative energy out of this house.” Spirits can be stubborn—you may need to do this weekly for a month to see results.

6. White Candle Clearing

This one’s pretty straightforward. You need a brand-new white candle for each room. The color white symbolizes purity and the divine, and that fresh start is crucial for the ritual. Light the candle in the affected room, walk around, and command the spirit to leave. Open the window and order it out, just like with smudging. Repeat as necessary until the room feels lighter.

7. Feng Shui

I’m no Feng Shui expert, but I do know that energy flow matters. Rearranging furniture, clearing clutter, and allowing positive energy to circulate can help make your home less appealing to unwanted spirits. It’s all about harmony and balance. If this interests you, consider picking up a beginner’s guide on Feng Shui—it’s worth a shot if nothing else seems to be working.

8. Rice + Salt

This is one of the more unusual methods, but it’s been used for centuries. Spirits are said to have an obsessive need to count, which is where the rice comes in. Pour white rice around the perimeter of your home, close to the foundation. The spirit will be lured out to count each grain. After a couple of days, once the spirit is outside, pour kosher sea salt around the house just like you did with the rice. The salt acts as a barrier, preventing the spirit from re-entering. It’s old-school, but sometimes the old ways are the best ways.

When All Else Fails

If you’ve tried all eight methods and still have ghostly activity, it’s time to call in the pros. Paranormal investigators, clergy, or mediums may be able to help where DIY techniques fall short. Sometimes, it takes a village to get rid of a ghost.

Have you tried any of these methods before? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Drop a comment below and let’s share some ghostly clearing stories!

Sources

“Is Your House Haunted? Poltergeists, Ghosts or Bad Wiring”, Debi Chestnut, Llewellyn Worldwide, 2011.

“So You Want to Hunt Ghosts? A Down-to-Earth Guide,” Deonna Kelli Sayed, LLewellyn Worldwide, 2012.

“Picture Yourself Ghost Hunting,” Christopher Balzano, Cengage, 2008.

“The Encyclopedia of Ghosts & Spirits,” Rosemary Guiley, Checkmark Books, 2007.

“Ghost Worlds,” Melba Goodwyn, Llewellyn Worldwide, 2011.

“Is Your House Haunted?,” Fiona Broome, New Forest Books, 2013.

“Haunted Objects – Stories of Ghosts on Your Shelf,” Christopher Balzano et al., Krause Publications, 2012.

Last Updated on November 12, 2024 by Jacob Rice