The homeowner always uses mineral oil to “seal” the soapstone countertops when we are called to repair them.
Generally, oil is the the bane of natural stone surfaces. Because natural stone is so porous, it absorbs liquids like a sponge, including oil. Frequently this creates an uneven darkening of the stone.
The following is from Vermont Soapstone. One of the oldest businesses in Vermont has been operating continuously since 1856: Vermont Soapstone.
Like marble and granite, soapstone is a naturally occurring product that is quarried from the earth in blocks. However, it is completely stain resistant because it is non-porous, unlike either of these stones. Due to its inert nature and resistance to heat, chemicals, and acids, soapstone is unaffected by any common household products. While soapstone is as resilient as granite and marble, it is more forgiving under pressure and tends to dent rather than chip or crack. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged soapstone as a suitable surface material for contact with food.
Soapstone fresh from the quarry is light gray in color. When soapstone is exposed to water, grit, and oils, the stone develops its famed rich charcoal color. Due to the oxidation caused by these liquids, the stone’s color darkens, enhancing its natural beauty. We advise that you occasionally treat the stone with mineral oil to hasten oxidation. This treatment will keep oxidation uniform across the entire surface.
Once the soapstone is in place and the glues have had time to properly dry (overnight), use mineral oil to bring out the stone’s natural beauty. There will be some dust left over after newly installed stone has been cleaned up with a sponge and fresh water. Your soapstone is prepared for its first coat of mineral oil once all the dust has been removed.
Your soapstone’s initial oiling will require a little more work than subsequent oilings. Simply pour the mineral oil directly from the bottle onto the soapstone’s surface with a few clean, dry rags at the ready, then rub it in with one of the rags (a small paintbrush can be useful for corners). After applying oil to the stone, allow it to sit for approximately 30 minutes. Then simply use a second clean, dry rag to wipe away any remaining oil. Keep in mind that mineral oil only serves as a very thin moisture layer to hasten the oxidation of the stone. Because the stone doesn’t absorb the oil, it will eventually evaporate and need to be replaced. Your soapstone is now prepared for use after you have highlighted its characteristics.
The homeowner’s personal preferences will determine how often they receive this treatment. Most people discover that once per month for a year on average works for them. Some are finished with treatment within a couple of months. Some people treat the surface for a couple of years. When water is clearly leaving a dark spot, reapply the mineral oil according to this general rule: oil it up.
The topic of lubricating a soapstone sink has been a topic of discussion here for a while. When the oil is applied, the sink looks great. However, after a few washes and the use of dish detergent, the oil is frequently eliminated. That said, we leave the oiling up to you. The sink will darken with age and use, anyway.
After applying the mineral oil treatment, you can clean your soapstone with any household cleaner, like Ajax or Comet. Most of the time, simply wiping the soapstone with soap and water is sufficient. A soapstone sink will stand up to any mild cleaner. When necessary, a small vegetable brush can be used to easily maintain the cleanliness of sink corners.
Without a doubt, soapstone loves to be used. In fact, we’ve discovered that the frequency of follow-up oiling decreases as the stone is used more. Early scratches are typically just displacements of mineral oil if you notice them. The mark can be removed by lightly rubbing the area with your thumb or by reapplying a small amount of oil.
Absorbency Test for Sealing Marble and Granite
It may be because they have sealer to sell if your natural stone installation professional or sales representative advised you that your marble or granite needs to be sealed every six to twelve months. Try the following steps to ascertain the degree of absorbency for your stone before purchasing any sealers. This will reveal whether your stone needed sealing at all or whether it had been sealed before installation.
A water-based sealer won’t adhere to stone that didn’t darken where the water was sitting. Because it was sealed before installation or because the marble or granite you have has a low absorption rate, sealing is not required now. Additionally, this will demonstrate to you your level of resistance to stains caused by water. If the water did leave a dark stain, your slab is probably not sealed and needs to be sealed because it is porous enough to absorb liquids.
Conduct the same test for solvent or petroleum-based product absorption.
Solvent- or petroleum-based products won’t leave a dark stain if the mineral oil doesn’t either. If the mineral oil does leave a stain, sealing marble and granite with a solvent-based sealer is the best option. NOTE: Your marble or granite is not harmed if the mineral oil does leave a dark stain. Your stone’s natural color will return as the mineral oil evaporates.
In conclusion, your marble or granite does not require sealing if it did not change color when exposed to either water or mineral oil.
I should spray PAM all over my installed and sealed honed marble countertops, let them sit for the night, and then wipe them down with lots of paper towels. He claimed that because the marble would already be saturated, new oils wouldn’t cause any spots of discoloration.
I spoke with a very charming Italian man who was once the owner of a stone yard (aren’t they all?) and he gave me the following advice:
Baby Oil Can Affect The Actual Integrity Of The Marble
Natural stone like marble is extremely durable. Compression of limestone or calcium carbonate is how it is created.
This indicates that it is porous and that because the pores are exposed to air, moisture may eventually seep inside and cause them to deteriorate.
Therefore, using baby oil or any other kind of oil on marble surfaces runs the risk of allowing it to absorb moisture through the marble’s pores.
This is because spills on marble surfaces are much harder to clean up because oils can penetrate marble and fill its pores with an oily substance, which will then slow down how quickly water evaporates from the surface.
This prevents the marble from drying, which causes the stone to become weaker and eventually crack. Baby oil is therefore not advised for marble surfaces due to the potential side effects that could weaken the actual integrity of the marble, even though it may be a great tool for use on skin.
As a result, I advise against using baby oil or any other kind of liquid oil on your marble surfaces at home. Instead, use a mild cleanser.
And just like with anything else in life, it always pays to do your research before putting something new to the test. So, after using baby oil on my marble surfaces for a few weeks, this was one of my main discoveries.