How to Color Soapstone

Soapstone has a natural blue gray, and sometimes green, tint. In some instances, the stone can have a lighter or darker tint depending on the region where the stone is quarried. The only way to change the color of the stone is to wait over time for it to darken, or to speed up the darkening process with the use of mineral oil worked into the pores of the stone. This mineral oil darkens the stone evenly and eliminates odd dark and light patches on the countertops that can occur without the sealing that the mineral oil provides.

Things You'll Need

Mineral oil
Soft cloths

Zip lock bag

Instructions

- 1
  Pour mineral oil over the entire soapstone countertop. Wipe the oil over the countertop evenly with a soft cloth. Allow the oil to soak into the stone for about 20 minutes for the initial oiling.
- 2
  Wipe the leftover oil into the countertop with a clean cloth. Use circular motions and use the same number of motions for each area of the counter to keep an even application on the countertop.
- 3
  Wipe any excess oil up with a new cloth. Wait overnight before using the counter again. Try to avoid touching the counter during this time to eliminate oil spots on clothing and furniture.
- 4
  Repeat the oiling process once a week for six months. After six months, reduce the amount of oiling to once per month for six more months. A year after installation, oil the countertop as needed to remove scratches and maintain the dark finish on the stone.

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