Rinse the crawfish in cold water
Sort out any dead, cracked, or damaged crawfish
Fill a large container with cold water
Add salt to the water if desired
Soak the crawfish for 10 to 15 minutes
Stir the crawfish gently to help release dirt
Drain the water
Repeat the rinse and soak until the water runs clearer
Rinse the crawfish one final time
Keep the crawfish cold until ready to cook