Can I Prevent My Soapstone Countertops from Getting Scratched?
Your kitchen remains one of the most trafficked areas in your home. You and your family are constantly preparing meals, cleaning up, and spending time together creating a meal. The centerpiece of your kitchen centers on your soapstone countertops and ensures they look their absolute best all the time. One question many soapstone owners have comes down to one thing — can I prevent my countertops from getting scratched?
As trusted providers of soapstone kitchen countertops in Exton, PA, BC Soapstone understands that any kitchen countertop will suffer some wear and tear. From meal preparation to an auxiliary table, it’s reasonable that your countertops aren’t going to look brand new after years of use. Countertops are susceptible to damage, and soapstone is no exception.
Can I Prevent My Soapstone From Scratching?
So, on to the question at hand; Can you prevent your soapstone countertops from getting scratched? The short answer is no.
Soapstone is a relatively soft material, and it will scratch. Soapstone is primarily composed of the mineral talc, the softest mineral there is. The talc content of a given slab of soapstone dictates just how easily it can be scratched during everyday use.
Among the top pros and cons of soapstone slabs come from their durability. While soapstone is incredibly soft, it’s also extremely dense, making it quite durable. Check out this infographic on how resilient soapstone is, and continue reading for more information about how to treat your soapstone countertop and implement some scratch prevention techniques.
Soapstone used for countertops has a high percentage of quartz, which makes it suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. So while soapstone may be easily scratched, one of its most positive takeaways is that it may be quickly brought back to its original beauty.
However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to minimize the appearance of the inevitable scratches. Homeowners have strategies available to help maintain the overall look of their soapstone countertops and do their part to reduce any scratches.
So, What Can I Do About These Scratches?
Knowing what to do about scratch prevention for your black soapstone counters can help take some anxiety off of your plate. Watch this quick video on how you can get rid of scratches on your countertops, and continue reading to find out how BC Soapstone can help you keep soapstone looking beautiful.
Mineral Oil is Your Friend
Having a dedicated routine to clean and maintain your soapstone can help minimize the chance for your countertops to get scratched over time. The most essential cleaning tool in your arsenal to help reduce any scratches or scuffing is finding and using the right mineral oil.
Soapstone is a workhorse of a surface that naturally darkens with age. When it begins to show some wear, scratches can be easily disguised with an application of mineral oil or bee’s oil (reputable brands of both, including our own, can be found in our online store!) Deeper scratches can be smoothed down with sandpaper or a sanding kit (which we also sell).
Oiling and buffing periodically can help your unique countertop look great. While conventional household cleansers won’t necessarily harm the stone, they’ll remove the mineral oil coating. For this reason, cleaning with soap and water is strongly recommended.
Can I Seal My Soapstone?
Other countertop materials like marble and granite require regular sealings to maintain their overall appearance and prevent any scratches. It’s a potentially time-consuming endeavor that can be done yourself, but may be done more effectively by professionals to ensure it’s properly applied.
A word to the wise: we do not recommend using any soapstone sealer that you find on the market. These products are designed to seal porous stone that can stain, like marble and granite. Soapstone is a very dense, nonporous stone that does not need to be sealed.
For more information about our soapstone kitchen countertops in Wayne, PA, contact BC Soapstone today!
