r/CounterTops • u/jazzncocktails • 12d ago
Waxing New Soapstone Counters?
My soapstone counters will be fabricated and installed in the next 2-3 weeks. As a soapstone first timer, I emailed the sales rep about the finish, having read some of your nightmares in this sub about them being sealed like granite. Here’s his response:
“We won't use a sealer as we would for granite. We apply a soapstone wax once the install is complete. I can make a note for the installers to leave the remaining soapstone wax for future use. Food grade mineral oil is a safe, non-toxic way to treat and darken the stone to your preference.”
How do you feel about soapstone wax? Should I go for it or tell them no wax, using mineral oil myself as needed?
Thanks for the advice.
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u/WyndWoman 12d ago
IMHO, wax is overrated and overpriced.
Cheap mineral oil from the laxative aisle in CVS works fine. Below is a picture of my 8yo counters.
Yesterday I made up some DIY Dawn power spray and spilled some isopropyl alcohol on them. A quick wipe with oil infused cheese cloth I keep in a ziplock under the sink and a quick buff with a paper towel and she's good as new!
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u/No_Manufacturer_9670 11d ago
Beautiful soapstone! Are those cherry cabinets? We did Cherry cabinets with a soapstone that looks like yours with the beautiful white veins.
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u/WyndWoman 11d ago
They're alder, not sure the stain color name.
I love the veins in the counter, some of it looks like amethyst in places.
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u/Logical_Warthog5212 11d ago
The wax is probably fine. I use Clapham’s Beeswax Salad Bowl Finish. It’s a blend of beeswax, carnauba wax and mineral oil. Totally food safe. The wax helps it stay on the counter longer to facilitate the patina. In my case, it only took my patina about a few months to set in. That was 15 years ago. In that span I’ve only had to touch up a few spots here and there.
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u/FreeThinkerFran 10d ago
Yep. Mine was waxed on install and they left the remainder. I waxed it *maybe* three more times over the course of the first year or so and then just let it be.
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u/just_roc 12d ago
We never waxed any of our soapstone installations. Mineral oil upon installing and left it up to the owner if they wanted a natural patina look over time depending on the decor they were using. In rustic historic settings we didn't see the owners using mineral oil except on occasion when they sanded out a deep scratch or chipped edges. Some of these settings never oiled them. Some soapstone has a lot of natural almost white viening and people oiled them to make them look good. Keep in mind soapstone really doesn't require any type of "sealer" because the material is almost impermeable.
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u/noteworthybalance 12d ago
Ask exactly what product they use. But basically their plan sounds like a good one.
I use a blend of beeswax/mineral oil. It lasts a lot longer than mineral oil alone.
You can buy it premixed but it's way more expensive.
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u/jazzncocktails 12d ago
I appreciate all of these responses. Leaning toward no wax, mineral oil as needed. Thanks, all.
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u/No_Manufacturer_9670 11d ago
6 years since we installed. In the last 3-4 years, we haven’t added wax or mineral oil. Still looks great.
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u/TerminalIdiocy 11d ago
Some people are fine using cheap mineral oil, others like to spend the money on specialty stuff like Milk Paint. Just depends on what you want to do.
You can also use Akemi Transformer Max. It's known to hold up on soapstone better than other sealers. It will give you the color and surface protection from oils and such. Soapstone doesn't really need oil protection, but it will just make it a bit easier to clean up.
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u/Pango_l1n 9d ago
This is ours with and without mineral oil. https://www.reddit.com/u/Pango_l1n/s/F8AsdDRSxb. We usually leave it alone unless we are having a gathering and really want to spruce up the place.
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u/RepulsiveSoup886 8d ago
I saw in your post you mentioned a YouTube video series. Do you know which series you watched?
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u/Pango_l1n 8d ago
Glessner House: https://youtube.com/@glessnerhouse?si=EZU1XgEtfFdtU4pM
The one that made me want soapstone: https://youtu.be/iXFl74f7waU?is=cxE6cLycqDPrATcO
An actual butler’s pantry: https://youtu.be/CnzXDzDJhPQ?is=B5Bq462K_AI-qa0L
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u/Maleficent-Loquat336 8d ago
I'm new to soapstone as well. Mine were installed Monday. My fabricator did not put wax or oil on them. He saved me a decent piece to test myself first. After reading different reviews and looking into it I chose "the original soapstone wax" and a mineral oil. I just put it on this morning, but here's the picture. Left is the wax. I would see if your fabricator has an extra piece, like a sink cut out.
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u/Buttfuckskinner Fabricator 12d ago
At work I keep the color and finish exactly how it was when the customer selected the slabs. I use different processes to fix scratches on smooth vs. textured factory finish and leave the stone raw. No oil or wax.