This is from an earlier thread (link below) Posted by grannabelle (My Page) on Sat, Mar 27, 10 at 11:43 as you may have seen on my posting of yesterday, FL Joshua also rescued my counter tops this week... here is what i consider an invaluable piece of advice that he gave me while he was here, having to do with water rings and the like (which in my case was the least of the probs with my stone)- perhaps many of you are aware of this, but i was not, and so i pass it on...i always oiled on top of the rings and spots in an attempt to have them blend in..with no success...Joshua explained that before oiling i have to scrub the ring or spot with dish soap and water to remove it...and then re-oil...otherwise, you are just sealing the mark under the oil...last night i saw two very small little spots (don't know from what) - followed Joshua's advice and two minutes later they were completely gone... Here is a link that might be useful: Water rings on soapstone.....not anymore!

I am also considering a soapstone countertop for my new home. I've been to my countertop shop and have acquired a 5x5 piece. For the past few weeks, I've been conducting "experiments" on it-butter, red wine, bacon fat, olive oil, water marks, knife work, etc. I've oiled it and will now try the wax product mentioned above. I have growing confidence that I am "a soapstone person" because I've had a chance to live with it. If you are considering a soapstone counter, get a chunk and play with it before you invest in an entire kitchen. Also-re water marks. It may be that water in different locations have different mineral contents. If water marks are truly driving you crazy, play with different waters (distilled, botted, etc) and then consider a water treatment system for your home. I have high calcium in my current home. It leaves marks on everything. I've played with bottled water on my soapstone chunk, and there's a difference.

Abrasion is the only way that's coming off if it's coming off at all. I'd use a belt sander with a 50 grit and sand an 18" area at least. Remove the belt sander marks with an 80, 180, and 240 grit protocol on a random orbital sander. Feathering it to flat is critical; you don't want to trade a spot for a butter dish. On second thought, start with the 80 on the random orbital. If it doesn't disappear in several minutes, go to the belt sander.

stone isn't a "one size fits all". some stones don't need sealers. Like the Absolute Black I mentioned. Soapstone can stand alone, or be oiled. I've never heard of anyone sealing soapstone. they obviously don't know their stones. (and there is no such thing as a 10-year sealer, unless it's some factory patented version. If they used a regular sealer that anyone can purchase, it doesn't last for 10 years". Just the fact they told you "soapstone is nonporous" , but they applied a sealer, should tell you enough about their lack of knowledge. Can you ask what they used? was it an oil? a penetrating sealer? a topical product? Lets find out that info first. If it's a regular penetrating sealer, then I'd ask: "why are you applying a sealer to a stone that does not absorb" ? Does Soapstone Need to Be Sealed? The Answer Explained Whether soapstone is used for a kitchen countertop, a sink, a backsplash or some other building project, sealing is not necessary. Because this stone is dense and nonporous, it comes naturally equipped with a barrier against liquids and stains. In fact, the stone is composed primarily of hydrophobic talc, which lends it amazing water-repelling properties! Thanks to its mineral composition and nonporosity, there is no need for soapstone to be sealed to keep moisture, bacteria and food particles from penetrating its surface, as is often required for porous stones such as granite and marble. This makes it a favorable option for homeowners wishing to skip sealing as part of routine maintenance for their countertops. another one: Sealers on soapstone: Over the years we have tried many different products on soapstone. Our recommendation is not to seal soapstone because sealers are inherently designed to penetrate and seal a surface. Soapstone is a nonporous stone and sealers will not penetrate it and therefore will not bond as effectively. What this means is that if you decide to put a sealer on your countertop you MUST maintain a strict reapplication schedule to keep the light look, i**f you lapse these treatments your countertops will start to spot in unpredictable places due to natural oils.** https://bcsoapstone.com/care-and-maintenance/ **maybe this is why you have those blobs. either that, or the adhesive. Do you need to seal soapstone? We do not recommend sealing soapstone. Sealers are intended to seal porous stone like marble and granite which can stain. Soapstone is a very dense, nonporous stone which does not need to be sealed. https://www.soapstonecompany.com/soapstone-faq/ In any case, it's on THEM. Show them every bit of evidence on soapstone and why it shouldn't be sealed, then have them take care of it for you. I'd call in a stone expert though. The people you hired are morons and would prob ruin the countertop. once you get it handled, maybe try this. it's a type of wax. https://www.realmilkpaint.com/shop/waxes/soapstone/