Soapstone countertops are one of the strongest you can buy, but that doesn’t mean you can clean them however you’d like. You still need to make sure you are following the proper steps to get your soapstone countertops as clean as can be, and as safe as possible. Soapstone is nonporous metamorphic natural mineral made primarily from talc, magnesium, chlorate and silicate. It is by far one of the most stain-resistant surfaces you can buy, and because of this, is extremely easy to maintain. It’s so resistant to heat that people use it to make pizza ovens, cooking pots and heaters of all sorts. That right there is a good example on how powerful it is, and why it’s such a good choice for your home. Because of the fact it is resistant to heat, and stains, makes it ideal for your kitchen. The truth remains, that not matter how powerful it is, it still needs to be cleaned. When you look at the cost of soapstone, you’ll realize why you are paying so much. Soapstone pricing is there for a reason, because it’s simply worth it. Here are some basic guidelines on keeping your investment looking nice and clean.
Some of the things you’ll need to clean your soapstone counters are a soft rag or cloth, a bucket, mild dishwashing liquid, warm to luke-warm water, a dry soft towel.
First thing you do is add just a few drops of the dishwashing liquid to your bucket, stir it around in the warm water until you have some nice collection of suds forming. Wet your cloth, dip it in the suddy water and wipe your soapstone down. Rinse out the cloth, and repeat until it’s all clean. Then take your dry towel and wipe it down. It can be a little damp, but you need to make sure you don’t leave any puddles or heavy wet spots. Instead of dishwashing liquid to clean your soapstone, some people use all-purpose cleaner as well.
Everyone once in a while, say every month or few, you will want to do a deeper cleaning, usually something like mineral oil, which works the same way. It collects the deeper dirt and leaves the soapstone looking shinier and healthier. When you first get the soapstone, for about the first year or so, this should be done more often, until it’s settled in.
Soapstone, while strong, can still get scratched. So if you do get your countertop scratched, you can go over it with a piece of small, fine sandpaper in a circle motion. Wet the sandpaper, repeat. Wet a sponge and wipe away the dust that has formed. Put mineral oil on the spot, and rub it in. This will help remove the scratch, and keep it looking brand new.