Soapstone Care
Soapstone is a soft,non-porous stone that is frequently used for kitchen counters. It comes in a wide variety of colors, and, once installed, it provides a sleek, glossy surface for your kitchen. Soapstone care is straightforward, but there are details involved that are important. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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Because soapstone is mostly non-porous, nothing will soak into it. This makes soapstone simple to care for because stains will not readily soak into its surface. While stains will sit on the surface, soapstone can become dry and dull-looking over time, which is why regular care and maintenance is necessary.
Standard Care
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Soapstone can be regularly cleaned with a food-safe detergent. Using a detergent like Joy, Dove or Palmolive can keep soapstone looking good. In many cases, a quick wipe with a damp rag can take care of recent spills.
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Oiling
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Oiling restores a deeper shine to soapstone that might be starting to look tired or dull. Before a soapstone countertop is first installed in your home, it will have been recently oiled. Over time, the surface will need to be refreshed. Mineral oil can be used to restore the shine to soapstone, as can bee's oil. Bee's oil is a solid oil that is applied as a wax, and it tends to create a surface that feels less greasy than the one that is created when you use mineral oil. Oiling should be performed several times a year.
Considerations
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Soapstone is fairly durable, but it can become scratched. To care for a small scratch in soapstone, simply oil it and see if it it disappears. For a larger scratch, fine-grit sandpaper can be used to buff out the scratch. After sanding, oil the area to bring a shine back to the sanded areas.
Warning
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While soapstone is often called non-porous, this is not strictly true. There are porous areas in the stone; they are just significantly less than in a stone like granite. Oiling soapstone fills in the small porous areas, which stops mold and bacteria from growing there. Mold in the porous areas of soapstone can cause a permanent discoloration, and cleaning it out may result in damage to the soapstone. This is why oiling soapstone is important.
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