Are you looking into a new countertop and considering soapstone counters as an option? Have you wondered how to clean soapstone counters? And maybe you are thinking cleaning and caring for such a beautiful natural stone must be complicated.
If your house is anything like mine, your kitchen is busy. You find yourself in there often, prepping and cooking meals. You’re multitasking and don’t want to worry about putting a hot pan on the counter only to ruin it. Crumbs and spills are no longer a surprise; they are expected between your cooking and the kids trying to “help.”
The last thing you need as a busy mom is to worry about ruining your kitchen counters by doing the daily things you need to do. All these reasons are why soapstone is an incredible option for you. I’m sharing all the incredible benefits of soapstone and then giving you the rundown on how super easy it is to care for and clean soapstone counters.
This blog post is for you if you want low-maintenance countertops and prefer natural cleaning products!
Let’s dive in!
Just a friendly reminder: This tutorial and any opinions or recommendations are genuinely mine, but this is not a substitute for consulting a professional. I also use affiliate links to earn a commission.
About Your Soapstone Surface
As a busy mom keeping up with a family of six, the last thing I need is high-maintenance countertops. I want nice things in my home but having them sometimes means worrying and nagging the kids to be careful. Finding something for your home that is both beautiful and low maintenance may seem hard to believe, but soapstone is both of these things!
Here is what you need to know about soapstone. Soapstone is a natural stone like marble countertops. Unlike marble, soapstone is nonporous, meaning there is no sealing required like you’d have to do with granite or marble.
The color of soapstone starts as a light gray, and with use, it goes through a natural darkening process and eventually becomes a gorgeous dark charcoal color. Further down in this post I’ll tell you how to speed up oxidation of the stone so you can have the dark color sooner.
Soapstone’s nonporous structure makes it incredibly durable, which is why it’s such a popular choice in kitchens. The surface of soapstone is not finicky likely marble, so that spilled glass of red wine is no big deal. Hot pans are also not a concern if placed on soapstone. Also, forget the harsh chemicals because you won’t need these to keep soapstone clean.
Is soapstone sounding like a good choice for your countertops? If this hasn’t convinced you, let’s talk about how easy it is to clean and care for soapstone!
How To Clean Soapstone: The 4 Simple Steps
The last thing you want to do is worry about and spend extra time on some special cleaning routine to preserve your kitchen counters, right? The great news is soapstone doesn’t require special attention, and the products needed to keep it clean are already under your kitchen sink.
Here are the four steps on how to clean soapstone:
- Grab your mild soap and turn on your faucet to warm.
- Using warm soapy water, wipe down the entire surface of the soapstone.
- Rinse your sponge until you have clean water and wipe down the whole surface with warm water.
- Take a clean rag to go back and dry everything.
That’s it! You could even simplify this further by using a paper towel instead of a clean rag, and you could also let things air dry instead of hand drying the surface.
What About Those Special Soapstone Cleaners?
Nope! Soapstone doesn’t require any harsh cleaners or particular cleaning solution for long-term care; a natural product can do the trick. Did you know you can make natural disinfectant using a 1:1 ratio? This ratio applies to water and white vinegar, water and soap, or water and lemon juice.
I get it; sometimes, you don’t want to have to “do” one more thing. So, DIY’ing your countertop cleaner may not be in the cards right now. If you’re looking for a natural soapstone cleaner, log on to Amazon and add Simple Green to your cart.
How to Care for Soapstone
With soapstone, you can sit back and relax because there is no special maintenance, such as sealing the entire surface every couple of months.
The care you put into your soapstone counters depends on your preference for the light vs. darker color. Soapstone starts as a light gray color and, over time, oxidizes and turns into a rich charcoal color. This process happens with use; you don’t have to do a thing to make it happen!
If you like the darker color, no worries; there is a simple mineral oil treatment you can apply to turn your soapstone counters from light to dark. From time to time, as the oil wears away, you can re-apply it to keep your counters the color of your liking.
First Coat of Mineral Oil
Applying your first application of mineral oil to your new soapstone countertops will take a little more elbow grease, but again, still a super easy task even your kiddo could help!
- First, remove dust residue with a clean cloth, mild dish soap, and water.
- Next, pour the mineral oil directly onto your soapstone countertops.
- In a circular motion, cover the entire surface with the mineral oil.
- Wait a half hour for the oxidation process to work its magic, and then with a clean rag, wipe away excess oil, revealing the character of your soapstone and all its natural beauty.
- Remember, since soapstone is a nonporous stone, so the mineral oil is not absorbed into the counters, it leaves behind a thin moisture layer
How Often Should I Re-apply Mineral Oil?
The beauty of soapstone is it’s really up to you how frequently or little you re-apply. Frequent oiling is not necessary! You’ll know it’s time to re-apply an application of mineral oil if a glass starts to leave a dark ring on the surface.
What About Soapstone Kitchen Sinks?
There is no harm in applying mineral oil to your soapstone kitchen sink; however, keep in mind the oil will wash away after a few uses. If you’re looking to save time, skip the oiling. Your soapstone sink will darken and age with use.
How to Treat Surface Scratches
What appears as a light scratch is more likely a displacement of the mineral oil. Simply rub the affected area with a soft cloth and apply gentle pressure with your thumb. Another option is to re-apply mineral oil over this spot.
You were wondering how to clean soapstone, and I delivered that and so much more! I truly hope this info has made you feel better about selecting kitchen countertops knowing how easy it is to clean and care for soapstone.
What questions do you still have? Email me, and I’d be happy to help! I’d also love to see your kitchen soapstone countertops; tag me in a photo on Instagram @tantrumsandtools, and I’ll share your results in my stories!
xo
Amanda
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