Cleaning

Soapstone is very easy to care for.  You can use any kind of basic kitchen and bathroom cleaner on its surface.  Due to soapstone’s non-porous nature no chemicals can harm the stone. . However some stronger cleaners will remove the mineral oil from the surface of the stone and thus causing you to reapply the oil more frequently.  This of course is only if you so choose to apply mineral oil or bee's oil.  We also recommend you use a soap (Joy, Dove, and Palmolive) that is food safe simply because you prepare food on the surface of any countertop and that product can transfer to your food.  The advantage of soapstone is that it is non porous and nothing will ever 'soak' into the stone.  If the surface is clean and free of residue you have a pure surface to work with.

Oiling the Stone

After installing your soapstone counter tops we will apply the first application of mineral oil to the surface of your tops. If your project is still under construction we may leave this first application up to you.   Remember you do not have to oil your stone.  Oiling your stone simply speeds up the patina process of the stone and gives the stone a darker look which can enhance the beauty of the stone's veining patterns.  A suggestion to those who want an even and dark surface -your first few applications of mineral oil should be done as soon as you can visibly see the last application evaporate.  Depending on the type of soapstone the application could last from 1 to 3 days.  After the first few weeks of applying the mineral oil you will notice that the time period between applications will lessen. You will then only need to apply mineral oil every few months or whenever you wish to have a darker appearance.

To apply mineral oil: Simply pour directly onto the surface a thin line of oil and then use a rag or paper towels to wipe the stone and even out the oil application.  We suggest applying the oil to a rag and then saving the rag in a zip lock bag.   Remember less is more!   If you apply too much oil on the stone it will feel greasy.  Simply wipe the excess oil off the soapstone with a paper towel. 

To apply Bee’s Oil: Bee’s oil often comes in a hardened state which you can apply like a car wax.  Apply it with a clean dry rag or a dry car wax pad.  Let it sit for about 10 minutes then buff it off.  It will leave a longer lasting patina on the stone. Bee’s Oil also feels less “oily”. 

We are also proud to carry a product called Clapham’s Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish.  It is completely all natural, edible and has a beautiful light honey smell.  This comes in a paste form and is simple to apply.  We use a rag or a paper towel to apply it and then simply re-wipe the area to smooth the look of the application.

Maintenance

If you choose a softer variety of soapstone it will develop scratch marks on the surface sooner then a variety that is harder. If the scratches are shallow, a simple application of mineral oil will make the scratch disappear. If the scratch is deep or a nick has formed, we recommend the following steps.
	Take 150 grit and sand the scratch in a circular motion
	To finish up this process use 220 grit sandpaper in the same fashion (You can use water with this procedure, which can give a smoother finish)
	Wipe the area clean of dust and apply mineral oil or bee’s oil, and the scratch is gone!