How to polish soapstone countertops

Since soapstone is not porous, you don’t have to think of anything like letting the oil sink in. Dry the countertop of excess oil. Wipe it completely, and do not leave any greasy feel.

Store your cloth in a plastic bag, and use it the next time you need to oil your countertop. If the surface of your soapstone gets scratche. Wet the sandpaper, and sand the scratch again, using a smooth, circular motion.

Wet a sponge with warm water, and wipe away any residual dust. Pour a small amount of mineral oil onto a. Once you oil the countertop for the first time you will see the stone will become much darker. A few days from the first oiling, most soapstone will lighten. You can re-treat your countertops every time this happens. The soapstone will take several coats of mineral oil to reach its final color, getting darker after every oiling.

These will show scratches. The grout when properly sealed( twice and so easy to do) by a penetrating sealer will look good for years. Sometimes rugge but often cozy, rustic kitchens have a timeless and natural appearance.

Wide-planked wood floors, antique brass hardware, knotty wood cabinets, and hammered copper all contribute to the earthy atmosphere of the rural. If you want a finished soapstone work to shine, it must be properly treated and polished using the right kind of oil and the proper techniques. You can clean your soapstone after the mineral oil treatment using any household cleanser such as Ajax or Comet.

Usually just wiping the soapstone with soap and water works just fine. A soapstone sink will stand up to any mild cleaner. Sink corners can be easily kept clean with the use of a small vegetable brush when needed. The stone is harvested from a quarry as a single slab or large block. The frequency of oiling applications will depend on the home owner.

Stone countertops not only add an expensive touch to kitchens, baths, and multi-purpose rooms, they are an excellent choice for durability. First, you need to understand that soapstone is a natural stone, and polishing, sanding, and honing effects each natural stone differently. There is no absolute method to fix the problem, so some testing will need to be done to see how your particular soapstone will react to polishing. Clean soapstone countertops with an all-purpose kitchen cleaner or mild soap. If your soapstone countertop develops an uneven patina.

Using a soft cloth, wipe on a light coat of boiled linseed oil. Tung oil or Danish oil can also be used. Do not apply heavy coats or the oil will become gummy and hard to polish. Wipe off the excess oil and allow to dry. When the oil has drie buff with a cotton or flannel cloth to polish.

Talc is what gives soapstone its signature feel (soft like a dry bar of soap). The more talc in the stone, the softer it is. Clean off the salt and lemon juice with water and vinegar. Sealing: Butcher-block and solid-wood countertops should be sealed for protection, since they are susceptible to warping and cracking.

Spills do not soak into the countertops , and do not leave stains. The soapstone may darken when liquid collects, but it will return to its natural color as soon as the liquid evaporates or is wiped up. Apply mineral oil to the soapstone with a clean, dry cloth.

Wipe away any excess mineral oil to keep the sink from being slick. Rub sandpaper in a circular motion over any deeper scratches,. Soapstone Countertop Cleaning.

Because soapstone is dense and non-porous, it is very germ and bacteria resistant. We recommend using mild soap and water to clean your soapstone countertops. You can use any common household cleaners on your soapstone counters. Durable and forgiving, your soapstone countertop will just keep improving with age (and will probably outlive you).

You won’t regret investing in a natural stone with timeless good looks. Usually, it will take coats of oil to get to the dark shade of soapstone. Step 4: Clean the surface. Look for more scratches that you may have ignored earlier and in case of detection, repeat the process. Scrubbing soapstone with powdered cleaners can remove this shine, meaning you’ll have to give your countertop a mineral treatment more often.

Use a dry cloth to rub the surface dry. You can clean most countertops naturally with soap and water as long as you clear the counter of debris first. Simply add a little soap to a bucket of water, dip a soft rag or sponge in the water, and wipe off the counter.

Most people who buy soapstone are selecting it because they desire a weathered or aged look. The worn rustic look of years of use is exactly what they are trying to achieve. Michael, Marble Polishing Contractors, Western New York: I recently was called in to repair a recycled lab top composed of soapstone , and rest assure it was a unique experience. First, I had to remove a black hard wax with acetone, which then revealed significant chemical burns.

The surface has a lot of character, more variations than slate, and granite was just not historic at all for a Victorian.