How to Care for a Soapstone Kitchen Sink
Soapstone is commonly used to make kitchen counters and sinks. It is a popular choice because of its natural patina and veins of color. New soapstone installations are grayish. As soapstone ages, it turns darker. Most people prefer to regularly oil their soapstone to give it a glossy, wet look. Soapstone is a relatively soft material compared with other sink and counter materials, such as granite. It is much more susceptible to scratches, especially with frequent use. Keeping your soapstone sink looking glossy and scratch-free will require regular maintenance. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Pour a couple of tablespoons of mineral oil on a cloth. Rub all surfaces of the dry soapstone with the cloth. Add more oil as needed. You do not need to rub the soapstone for a long time; just spread the oil around evenly. It will not soak into the soapstone.
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Wipe off the excess oil with another cloth.
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Give your sink another oil treatment when it begins to lighten. According to M. Teixeira Soapstone, "there isn't a set rule" of the frequency of mineral oil treatments. The more often you oil soapstone, the longer it will hold a darker color. About half a year to a year of consistent oil treatments will render it a permanently darker color.
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Use any mild household cleaning solution to clean your soapstone sink. Very harsh chemicals will not harm the sink but can remove the mineral oil.
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Dry your empty kitchen sink with a towel every two to three weeks to check for scratches. If you notice any, apply mineral oil. This often hides light scratches.
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Treat deeper scratches with 120-grit sandpaper. Smoothly move the sandpaper in a circular motion. When the scratch is nearly gone, switch to 220-grit sandpaper. Apply mineral oil in that area for the next several days until the color is consistent with the rest of the sink.
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