Being the busiest room in a house, the kitchen needs to fill many
functions and this is the main reason why decorating this space will
require careful planning in order to achieve all your desired results.
Putting in a new countertop in your kitchen will both improve the
functionality of this space and its overall look. One kitchen
countertop material you should definitely pay attention to is
soapstone. This material retains heat, comes in a wide range of colors
and finishes and can last even a lifetime once you know how to take
proper care of it.
Here are the main tips you should consider when taking care of its minimum maintenance routine:
- Soapstone
is an impenetrable material and this means that nothing is going to
sink into a kitchen countertop made from this material. Once you choose
to have a soapstone countertop installed in your kitchen, you should
know that this material will slowly darken and this process will happen
over time and due to regular use.
- Using a standard
mineral oil in order to keep a uniform color is recommended and you
have to make sure that you apply this oil every 6-8 weeks. If you want
to return your soapstone countertop to its original and grayish color,
you will have to use sandpaper. Also, sandpaper can be used in order to
fix any scratches on the countertop together with sealer or little
mineral oil. The marks on the soapstone countertop can be rubbed out by
using a dry paper towel.
- Once you have the
soapstone counter installed, you may add a mineral oil or sealer in
order to protect its surface. This will ensure that your kitchen
countertop will keep its initial brilliance and even last for a longer
period of time. If you worry about the mineral oil, you may relax
because this type of oil is safe for any food preparation and it’s
non-toxic. For instance, the kind of mineral oil you may purchase from
your local food store is fine for maintaining the surface of your
soapstone countertop. However, you should keep in mind that lighter
weight oils are likely to go on the soapstone surface more easily when
compared to the full body oils.
- Once you have your
soapstone countertop wet with mineral oil, its surface will become
shiny and it glistens. Over time, mineral oil will soak right into the
soapstone surface and dry out or evaporate.
- You may
also go for wax treatments that come with special blends of seeds, nuts
and beeswax. The main advantage brought by such wax treatments is that
they do not evaporate so fast. This means that you may lessen the
frequency of the necessary applications. Also, wax treatments have more
staying power and are safe for a food preparation surface.
- Mainly,
the food stuffs you prepare and the oils you handle are likely to oil
the soapstone countertop overtime and they will darken its surface in a
natural way – your soapstone kitchen countertop will be taking on a
patina.          Â
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Maintenance & Tips 
