Soapstone Maintenance

Oiling soapstone countertops does not do anything to protect or treat soapstone, it is solely based on your desired aesthetic. If you want your soapstone counters to appear darker, follow the steps below.

First 7-8 days: Oil soapstone countertops every night, wiping off any excess in the morning with a paper towel. Repeat this process daily until the counters darken to the desired color. To get an idea of how oil will transform the look of your soapstone surface, check out our Soapstone Slab page. 

After the initial application of oil, oil the countertops every time the color appears to be getting lighter. Each application of oil will cling to the surface better than the previous one.

Suggestion: Use the same rag each time. Keep the oiled rag in a plastic bag in a convenient location.

• Avoid using rough or abrasive materials to clean your soapstone counters.
• If dried food or liquid needs removal from the soapstone surface, soak the countertops by wetting a sponge and setting it over the area that needs to be cleaned. As soon as it loosens up, wipe away the remaining substance.
• Use a cutting board or butcher block instead of cutting directly on the soapstone. This will help keep your knives sharp and help prevent scratches on your countertops.
• If oiling your soapstone countertops, be sure to follow the initial oiling instructions. Remember that soapstone is dense and non-porous. It does not absorb the oil, so multiple applications of oil are necessary to build up a significant layer of oil. Attempting to build up the layer all in one day can cause a sticky surface. Without a buildup of multiple layers of oil, the surface may appear scratched more easily. This is because it is very easy to scratch away a single coat of oil.

 An application of oil didn’t cause the scratch to disappear? Follow these steps to remove the scratch from your honed soapstone surface.

Larger nicks and scratches can be sanded out with 200-grit sandpaper. To hone the surface like new, finish with Scotch Brite and buff lightly. After sanding, re-apply oil as done initially. The offending mark should be gone.

  Any household cleaner can be used to clean soapstone counters. It is not necessary to use harsh cleaners or chemicals to remove bacterial from soapstone countertops. Soapy dishwater should sufficiently sterilize the surface from any food or drink remnants.