How to clean soapstone countertops

Cleaning soapstone countertops is extremely simple, using mild soap and water. If you decide to use mineral oil on the surface, you’ll want to avoid cleaners with harsh chemicals as they tend to undo that process.

Polish Soapstone to Remove Stains & Scratches

Stains are easily cleaned by scrubbing or even sanding the stains away. However soapstone is a very soft stone and is prone to scratches. Minor scratches are easily repaired with an FDA approved food grade mineral oil or enhancer.

Avoid using vinegar, citrus, or harsh chemical cleaners on soapstone. Cleaning products containing strong acids are a particularly big no-no. These can actually eat away at the soft stone over time, robbing it of its luster and leaving it vulnerable to serious damage like etching, pitting, or breaking.

Linseed Oil / Beeswax

A combination of linseed oil and beeswax will also enhance the deep rich colour of soapstone, and will reduce the need for multiple applications of mineral oil. Simply apply linseed oil and beeswax with a cloth*, allow it to set for a few hours, and then wipe dry.

Soapstone Oil: Food-Safe Oil

Most oils made for soapstone is mineral oil, a petroleum-based substance. This is not sustainable. But not all food-grade oils work. Additionally, do not use the common household olive oils: they will go rancid and start to smell.

Having completed the carving of your soapstone, you can put a glossy finish on the stone by the following the steps outlined below. 1. Remove the file marks by sanding, using 220 or 240-wet/dry sandpaper. Hold on to your carving as wet, smooth soapstone can be very slippery.

To care for soapstone, we recommend applying dry-wax, mineral or baby oil to the surface of your soapstone 24 hours after it is installed.

No. But you do need to apply mineral, coconut or olive oil initially and then follow up with (your preferred) oil treatments about once a month for a year. This is not sealing, since soapstone does not absorb the mineral oil (granite does require sealing).

Some homeowners apply once a month for a year or two, some repeat just three times and are satisfied with the results.

Here’s where talking about soapstone can get a bit confusing.. as already stated, soapstone is “nonporous” which means that nothing will penetrate the material, butyou can, and will, get surface discolorations from water ,various oils and products that come in contact with the stone if it is not treated with

We recommend oiling the countertops as soon as the previous coat of mineral oil has started fading. Once you oil the countertop for the first time you will see the stone will become much darker. A few days from the first oiling, most soapstone will lighten. You can re-treat your countertops every time this happens.

Mineral Oil and Soapstone

To help expedite oxidation of the stone, we recommend that you treat it with mineral oil from time to time. This treatment will keep oxidation uniform across the entire surface.

Soapstone surfaces need not be sealed, but we recommend treatment with mineral oil if consistent surface darkening is desired. Without treatment, soapstone will darken in uneven regions around surface areas most frequently used.

Soapstone Countertop Care

The mineral oil treatment will make the patina more uniform. Oil and grease can discolor new soapstone, so wipe up spills promptly and, if necessary, rub a bit of acetone (nail polish remover will suffice) on an oil stain to lighten it.

Run water over a sheet of 320-grit sandpaper. Sand chips smooth. Rub the sandpaper in the direction of the scratch until the soapstone scratch is no longer visible. If you removed a deeper scratch with 180-grit sandpaper, rub the sanded area with wet 320-grit sandpaper.

Soapstone is functional, durable and beautiful. Even after 100 years of hard use, soapstone can be refinished to a looks-like-it-was-just-installed state.

“The mineral oil will come off faster for people who cook every day, compared to someone who eats out regularly.” Madisyn says that the average homeowner adds oil about once a month or every two to three months. “Mostly, it depends on how dark you want the stone to be.