Still, we recommend avoiding harsh cleaners that could exacerbate skin and sinus irritations in your guests. You can make various natural soapstone cleaners with water and white vinegar, water and soap, water and lemon juice, or many other combinations.
It's also not a good idea to use any kind of harsh scrubbing product or tool on your soapstone countertops. Although soapstone is chemically inert and therefore not affected by acids, it can be scratched and nicked by strong abrasives or tools.
Any common household cleaner can be used to clean soapstone counter surfaces. Chemicals and acids do not harm it. However, we do recommend that you use regular soap and water because harsher solvents may remove the mineral oil treatment, therefore generating more maintenance.
"It is a softer material, so it does scratch easier," Carbia says. Homes with children who drop things, or homeowners who prefer cutting straight on the countertop as opposed to using a cutting board, might damage soapstone.
White vinegar is a natural solution that can be utilized to dissolve calcium buildup. Sitting overnight, you will be able to remove lime buildup from the drain while avoiding the harsh chemicals in traditional drain cleaners.
If you don't have a coating on your natural stone surfaces but are still worried about disinfecting, regular Clorox Wipes can be used to give your counters a wipe down in a pinch, but don't let them sit directly on the stone!
The application of mineral oil is the most commonly mentioned method of restoring the look of soapstone counters. Mineral oil works to quicken the natural darkening process of soapstone and leaves off a soapy residue (that's why it's called soapstone!).
You do not have to commit to oiling soapstone the day it is installed. You can remove oil from the surface with rubbing alcohol or acetone if you have an accidental oil spill on an un-oiled counter without any negative effects.
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. Leaving the soapstone untreated will develop a patina of age that many people enjoy.
Avoid the use of cleaners with added phosphorus or bleach and products such as Scotchbrite® pads. OIL RE-APPLICATION: We recommend re-applying mineral oil to your soapstone surfaces every 6 months, or as needed, to seal and protect the surface.
Soapstone is used because it's heat resistant and needs little maintenance.
Since soapstone is non-porous, it is easy to clean. However, you need to use mild soap and a soft sponge.
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.
If you leave it untreated, in time, the soapstone will darken around the surface areas most frequently used, particularly in a kitchen or food service environment. Leaving the soapstone untreated will develop a veneer of aging that many of our customers appreciate.
Regularly Wet Areas
On the upside, this means that soapstone doesn't stain and it doesn't need to be sealed — chalk that up to a point in the “low maintenance” column! However, the fact that soapstone is non-porous also means that it doesn't absorb liquids that may be spilled or dragged across the surface.
With soapstone, if water droplets leave a dark spot, re-oil. Wax, on the other hand, is known for giving your soapstone an even richer, deeper color. The deep, charcoal gray created by these special waxes is breathtaking. Some homeowners claim the soapstone countertops treated with wax feel smoother to the touch.
Talc and soapstone may contain asbestos. In a longitudinal study in Germany samples of materials used have been taken over a periode of 10 years. Only very small quantities of asbestos have been detected.
To preserve the color of your soapstone, it should be resealed every three or four years. The frequency may depend on the amount of stress the sealant is exposed to; however, scratches on the surface of the sealant usually only require application to the affected area.
While soapstone is a highly durable surface, it's possible to scratch it. However, unlike other materials used for countertops, buffing the scratch with mineral oil will help remove the scratches.
Alberene Soapstone wax can be applied as frequently as needed depending on the shade of black that you desire. Zajac suggests applying the wax weekly in the beginning to make the soapstone darken faster than normal.
Scratches on soapstone are, however, not particularly difficult to remove though. The fact that it is a non-porous material, prevents it from experiencing the same damages from abrasive substances such as vinegar, Windex, ammonia, and bleach that other countertops typically experience.
Soapstone is dense, without pores, does not stain, and repels water.