Soapstone Care & Maintenance. If you want to make your soapstone countertop or sink darker, you can simply apply some mineral oil. Periodic application of mineral oil will help it develop a dark patina and enhance the natural aging process of your soapstone. Many customers choose to leave the stone untreated.
What many do not know, is that Soapstone will naturally turn or patina dark through day to day use over time. An immediate and more uniform matte black or green black look (depending on the look of the stone mined) can be achieved through a simple oiling process right away.
Mineral oil is recommended for coating Soapstone sinks and counter-tops.
Do you need to seal soapstone? We do not recommend sealing soapstone. Sealers are intended to seal porous stone like marble and granite which can stain. Soapstone is a very dense, nonporous stone which does not need to be sealed.
Some types of mineral oil may not be food-safe because they are derived from petroleum products. They may also leave your countertops with a greasy feeling. It's also not a good idea to use any kind of harsh scrubbing product or tool on your soapstone countertops.
The grey look:
The grey look is achieved by applying and scrubbing your surfaces with a more aggressive cleaner. A good example of this is Simple Green. Anytime oils are spilled, dropped or splattered on a soapstone surface you can strip them off with a degreaser which will help maintain a greyer look.
Soapstone is non-porous and, unlike marble and granite, does not need to be sealed. You can purchase our special formulated Soapstone Care Mineral Oil from our online store. This is a lighter grade mineral oil, which is easier to apply than standard drugstore mineral oil.
First Oiling
With a few clean, dry rags at the ready, simply pour the mineral oil directly from the bottle onto the surface of the soapstone, rubbing it on to the entire surface with one of the rags (a small paint brush can be handy for corners). Once you've covered the stone with oil, let it sit for a half hour or so.
Fortunately, it's easy to disguise any small scratches which appear on the surface, and to preserve the luster of soapstone. Simply applying a thin coating of food-grade mineral oil to the stone on a regular basis will maintain its sheen and cover up any imperfections.
Walnut oil is one of these. Despite increased popularity, it does not optimize the look and feel of soapstone, and it's allergenic. Additionally, do not use the common household olive oils: they will go rancid and start to smell.
Believe it or not, bleach will not harm it either. However, Bleach is not needed, since the soapstone's natural high density will not harbor bacteria of any kind. Simple soapstone and water or vinegar and water. Will work wonderfully well and clean any surface bacteria just as well as bleach or harsh cleaners.
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.
Soapstone almost always has a muted gray, gray-blue, or gray-green color. It often has white veins running across the stone, and sometimes has swirls of white or quartz. Soapstone is quarried in many places around the world, and these locations each provide unique slabs.
Soapstone Pros and Cons
Soapstone darkens over time, however, via a natural process akin to oxidation, so it will eventually develop a distinct patina that some homeowners find appealing and others don't. The main downside to soapstone, however, is its tendency to scratch or chip under heavy wear.
Mineral Oil
Over time, soapstone naturally darkens in color. However, some people opt to speed the darkening process along by using mineral oil. Once the oil has been applied, you can expect to see the colors change to a dark gray or even a black.
Soapstone can be finished with many products. Different oils and varnishes will show the stone's colour and protect it. In most cases just a light dusting is necessary to keep a finished piece looking great.
Since soapstone countertops do not crack easily, they are more durable than other countertops made of natural stone. Its non-porosity feature also means that your soapstone countertops can serve you for a long period without requiring sealing.
Can You Color Soapstone? The porous nature of soapstone makes it ideal for dyeing and staining, because it is porous and absorbs paints easily. In addition to gold and silver, marble, limestone, and gemstones might also be painted.
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. Once your countertop reaches its full patina, oil discoloration won't be a problem.
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.
Darkening With Oil or Wax
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. We do not automatically apply anything because all the silicone and caulks used during installation need to cure for 24 hours after installation.
Linseed oil and beeswax will also enhance the deep rich colour of the soapstone countertop. Just allow it to set for a few hours and then wipe it dry. Most of the time you only need to do one application, but if you notice any areas begin to lighten again, there's no harm in applying it a second time.
When you've got a brand new soapstone countertop, it's worth rubbing it down a day after installation. Before doing so, allow your counter to settle for a day so the silicon can set and dry. After that, you should plan to oil your stone once every month or when your counters start to get too light.
Soapstone is both chemical resistant and heat resistant, so you can set hot pots and pans directly on soapstone without risk of cracking or scorching. Soapstone is much softer and more prone to scratching than granite or quartz however, so preparing food directly on your soapstone counters could easily scratch it.