How to care for soapstone countertops

Read on for how to care for this darkly dramatic, and low-maintenance, material. That rich charcoal color soapstone is known for comes when the stone is exposed to water, grease and oils. Soapstone fresh from the quarry is light gray in color. These liquids cause the stone to oxidize, which darkens the stone’s color and really brings out its natural beauty. 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. The soapstone will take several coats of mineral oil to reach its final color, getting darker after every oiling. So, if you prefer the gray-blue look which the soapstone countertops have initially to the darker one, take a sandpaper and buff their surface. Once your soapstone countertop is installed you can follow these simple instructions: 1. You can even use an electric sander. Vacuum the countertop to remove any dust or dirt.

Clean the countertop with a clean cloth and denatured alcohol. Once the alcohol dries apply mineral oil to the countertop with a soft cloth. Care for your soapstone countertops properly! The stone is harvested from a quarry as a single slab or large block.

The frequency of oiling applications will depend on the home owner. The primary care that soapstone requires is a periodic oiling that keeps it looking its best and produces a natural patina as the years go by. In other words, it is done for aesthetic rather than performance reasons. Bring The Beauty of Nature Indoors. When it comes to remodeling projects, simple replacements,.

Reasons You Should Consider Limestone Countertops. The Timeless Beauty Of Granite For Your Home. Martha Stewart on soapstone and how to care for it. Update Your Countertops with Quartz! Oiling soapstone Counter tops is purely aesthetic.

It does nothing to protect or treat soapstone. If you want your soapstone counters to appear darker, follow the steps below. First 7-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. But a wiping of mineral oil will cure small scratches and larger scratches can.

View our video and learn how to apply oil to your soapstone countertop. Care and Maintenance There is actually no special maintenance required for soapstone. Most of our customers choose to apply mineral oil or soapstone wax to the surface of their soapstone countertops , but it is not necessary. Here are some tips for caring for soapstone and keeping it beautiful. Im new to the world of soapstone (steatite) countertops and could use some advice on cleaning and caring for them.

Does mineral oil really help? As we said above, the shade of your countertops is based on personal. Make sure your countertops are clean and dry. The grey look: The grey look is achieved by applying and.

Another area of concern is durability. On the one han soapstone is very strong. It’s wonderful being able to set hot pots and pans right on the counter. The question isn’t if soapstone will scratch, but when.

This video demonstrates how to maintain and remove marks from a soapstone countertop. A periodic application of mineral oil will darken the surface and enhance the natural soapstone aging process. Care feeding of soapstone countertops - Kitchen Consumer To help expedite oxidation of the stone, we recommend that you treat it with mineral oil from time to time. When soapstone is oiled for the first time the stone will become significantly darker.

After the first application of mineral oil the soapstone will begin to lighten again. At that point mineral oil can be reapplied. After each application the soapstone product will retain the mineral oil for a longer period of time.

Stone countertops not only add an expensive touch to kitchens, baths, and multi-purpose rooms, they are an excellent choice for durability. This is a natural occurrence as the stone oxidizes and actually adds to the beauty of the surface. If your soapstone is new, you can expect that it will darken over time.

Most soapstone will darken to a charcoal gray, although some may remain lighter and retain a greenish hue.