There is a new trend in interior design and it is soapstone. Designers have once again started installing this dark gray stone in kitchens again in the form of soapstone counters, sinks and stoves. A nice alternative to other stones, such as granite and marble, soapstone more to offer and is popular with homeowners looking for something different.

There are two common varieties of this useful stone. Artistic soapstone, too soft for most home-related projects, is used more in sculptures and art. Then there is architectural grade, which is the type of stone used for interior design projects. Did you know that the ancient Sphinx of Egypt is made of soapstone and has withstood time and weather for thousands of years.

There are a number of benefits of soapstone which make it so requested. This is due to its inert nature and its resistance to stains, water and chemicals or germs. When it comes to good kitchen hygiene, you can’t get much better than a soapstone countertop. As a matter of fact, it is probably the most stain-resistant and easy to maintain surface in your home. Its heat resistance coupled with its ability to block stains makes soapstone a highly desirable material to put in your home.

Caring for and maintaining kitchen items made from this practical stone such as soapstone sinks, is actually quite easy since almost nothing penetrates its surface. There are several maintenance options, depending on your preference:

• Let the natural patina of your soapstone mature over time. You can get away with doing nothing more than keeping the surface clean and germ free.
• You have the option of applying a mineral oil periodically, approximately ever four to six weeks. This keeps the finish of your soapstone countertops lustrous. The color does not change as dramatically over time.
• Apply a stone sealer to your soapstone counter. Soapstone is inert, meaning nothing will penetrate the surface. Sealers have less of an effect on it than with marble and granite. However, depending on the sealer, it can alter the color of the stone and keep it looking dark and lustrous for several years without the need of applying mineral oil. Other sealers can leave the natural color but still provide the benefit of not needing mineral oil.
• If your soapstone counter is scratched, you only need some sandpaper to repair it. Deep scratches require rough sandpaper like 80 grit. Work your way up to 220 and finally to 300 to 400 grit until the surface matches your original soapstone finish. For less severe scratches you can typically just use the smoother 300 or 400 grit sandpaper to polish the surface and remove the scratch.

Nothing adds brilliance to a kitchen than a new soapstone countertop.  Soapstone slabs are a beautiful yet highly resilient, natural material often used in the kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms of homes across the country.  It is a unique and relatively inexpensive way to decorate a brand new home or to add some style during a new redesign of the interior.

The soapstone material in itself is quite easy to care for.  Any kind of basic kitchen and bathroom cleaner can be used on its surface without the worry of damage.  Soapstone has a non-porous nature to it so you never need to worry about chemicals harming the stone.

The experts here at Dorado Soapstone recommend a healthy and food safe soap for everyday care since you will be preparing food on the surface of your soapstone counter, after all.  You don’t want any harmful chemicals being transferred over to your food. However, since soapstone is non porous, most of the cleaning chemicals won’t be soaked into the stone and can be simply wiped away.  As long as the surface of the soapstone blocks is clean and free of residue you have a pure surface to work with.

A second big part of caring for your soapstone counter is handling the oiling of the stone.  This plays an important role in the care of the surface as well as bringing out the beautiful colors of the stone even more. Oiling the stone speeds up the patina process and gives it a darker look which vibrantly enhance the beauty of the veining patterns within the soapstone.  Remember, you do not have to oil your stone.

Once the soapstone slabs have been installed, you will want to apply the first application of mineral oil to the surface of them. One popular piece of advice for those looking for an even and dark surface is to apply each layer of mineral oil as soon as your last application dries.  Depending on the type of stone, these applications could last from 1 to 3 days.  After the first few weeks of applying the mineral oil, you should begin to see the time period between these mineral oil applications will shorten. Once these initial applications are finished, you only need to apply the mineral oil every few months or whenever you wish to have a darker appearance.

Applying mineral oil – To apply mineral oil to your soapstone counter, pour it directly onto the surface in a thin line and wipe the stone off with an old rag to even out the oil application.  If too much oil is applied, the stone will feel greasy.  Wipe away the excess oil from the soapstone with a paper towel.

Applying Bee’s Oil - Bee’s oil is found in a hardened state and the application of it is very which you can apply like a car wax.  Use a clean dry rag or a dry car wax pad.  Let the Bee’s Oil sit for about 10 minutes then buff it off, leaving a longer lasting patina on the stone.

So now that you decided to add a new soapstone counter for your new home, you should probably get acquainted with some of the maintenance which is required to keep soapstone counter looking attractive and new.  A new kitchen counter made from soapstone requires a little more maintenance than most other materials like granite or marble.  However, the look and beauty of this natural stone make the extra work definitely worthwhile. If a soapstone countertop is properly cared for and maintained, it can last for the lifetime of the home.

Typical Soapstone Counter

Your first option is simply not do a thing.  Time causes soapstone, which is normally a grayish-blue color, to slowly darken from regular use.  It is nothing to see a soapstone counter or a soapstone sink to become a natural darkened shade.  If your stone becomes marked, the softness of the stone allows you to either rub it out with dry paper towel and some elbow grease or you can use a small piece of light grit sandpaper, causing it to return to the original gray-blue color.

Your second option for proper soapstone countertop maintenance is to make sure it is properly sealed.  I recommend using a standard mineral oil which can be purchased in any home improvement store. Begin by rubbing a little bit onto the stone and then wipe off any excess.  The oil will darken all the stone tenfold to near a black color.  After some time, mineral oil will need to be re-applied to the soapstone counter about every four to eight weeks.  This keeps the countertop uniform in color as the oil evaporates.  Let’s say after a few years you get tired of the black color and wish to have your counters back to original soapstone grayish blue color.  You simply can achieve this from some sandpaper and a few hours of time.

You’re final option in soapstone counter care is to use a stone sealant.  This doesn’t have the same effect on soapstone as it does with granite.  Stone sealers are made to penetrate granite and marble.  Soapstone doesn’t allow anything in so the sealer can’t get down into the stone like it normally would with marble or granite.

There are two types of sealers to choose from.  The first changes the color of the soapstone to make it appear as if it was oiled. Once the sealer dries, it keeps the material looking dark and oiled for close to three years and sometimes more.  The other sealer causes the natural soapstone color to remain unchanged while also protecting your soapstone counter from changing colors.  This sealer should be re-applied once a year.