Kitchen Counters: Durable, Easy-Clean Soapstone
Give bacteria the boot and say sayonara to stains with this long-lasting material that's a great choice for kitchen and bath countertops
Michelle Jeresek
14 August 2012
Chemistry class might’ve been your first experience with soapstone, where it was the countertop material of choice due to its chemically inert composition (meaning chemicals won’t mar it) and high density, making it impervious to stains and bacteria. If soapstone can hold up to high school students and Bunsen burners, it might be the right choice for your kitchen or bathroom.
Take a look at these soapstone counters and learn more about this unique stone to see if it can work in your home.
Take a look at these soapstone counters and learn more about this unique stone to see if it can work in your home.
The basics: Soapstone is a natural stone composed largely of mineral talc, which lends the material the smooth feel of soap. Slab colors are typically medium gray and can have a greenish cast. Over time, the soapstone will darken to a deep charcoal. Slabs may contain pronounced veining, which is produced by quartz in the stone.
Cost: $80 to $100 per square foot, installed
Cost: $80 to $100 per square foot, installed
Pros: Durability is soapstone's top bragging right. It's not unusual in the northeast parts of the U.S. to find soapstone sinks and wood-burning stoves from the 1800s that are still functioning today, so consider this countertop a lifetime investment. Soapstone is a terrific material for the kitchen, as it's unaffected by heat (proven by its historical use for stoves). Being chemically neutral means that acids like tomatoes and lemon juice won't damage it, and its density makes it impenetrable by everything, including bacteria and would-be stains.
Cons: Its talc content makes soapstone softer than some other stone counters, which leads to edges and corners being eased over time. Nicks and scratches may accumulate too, which can be sanded out or considered part of its living patina. When selecting your slab, it's good to know that the greener the slab, the softer it is. So seek out slabs with less of a green cast if you want a harder slab.
Cons: Its talc content makes soapstone softer than some other stone counters, which leads to edges and corners being eased over time. Nicks and scratches may accumulate too, which can be sanded out or considered part of its living patina. When selecting your slab, it's good to know that the greener the slab, the softer it is. So seek out slabs with less of a green cast if you want a harder slab.
Special considerations: Make sure your soapstone is architectural grade, which is denser than the artistic grade often used for sculpture.
Maintenance: Mild soap and water will take care of routine cleanup. Regular application of food-grade mineral oil is typically recommended, as it darkens the stone and makes the appearance more consistent, but know that applying the oil is solely for aesthetics.
Sustainability: Soapstone gets green kudos for being a material that will last for generations.
However, the mining of soapstone is ecologically harmful. And though soapstone was once mined domestically in Vermont and Appalachia, most countertop material is now mined in Brazil, resulting in significant transportation-related energy expenditure.
More guides to choosing kitchen counters
However, the mining of soapstone is ecologically harmful. And though soapstone was once mined domestically in Vermont and Appalachia, most countertop material is now mined in Brazil, resulting in significant transportation-related energy expenditure.
More guides to choosing kitchen counters
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Most stains will eventually fade away. Oil is the trickiest, it stays for a long time.
We did Brazilian soapstone. Love it. Mineral oiled it once. Hated it. Cleaned it all off with ammonia. PU. Applied Milk Paint Company Soapstone Wax. First application took a bit of elbow grease but not a big deal. Wiped it on, let sit for an hour or so, wiped off. Didn’t use counters for about five days to let it cure. Stayed dark for a long time, NO greasy feel. It eventually wears off with wiping down of counters. Subsequent applications went on more quickly. We use less product now, wipe off with ten min, start using. Highly recommend wax over oil.
jaynelm1...if your stone came from the Virginia quarry, does it have much (or any) veining? We're just about to pull the trigger on slabs for our kitchen, and I've found that I had to choose between veining and a domestic product as the soapstone here (at least what's been quarried in recent years) doesn't have nearly as much veining as Brazilian soapstone. These slabs also have a good degree of speckling, which isn't so noticeable from a distance but is very apparent up-close, whereas most of the online pics show a more or less uniform background with blended variegation. I wish I could have the best of both worlds as it were, but it seems that this is not to be.