My soapstone, piracema, is quite chipped on the edges, but I am okay with it. There are even a few gouges in the surface where I was (apparently over) tenderizing meat.

The only thing that "stains" my countertop is *oil* and I don't mind that either. I can't speak to bleach cleaners (other than Clorox hard surface spray which I only drag out after chicken prep), but I've never used anything (metal polish included) that has done anything to my soapstone.

Love the stuff. I knew going in that mine was a soft variety, and since it came damaged from shipping, I never had that heart stopping first chip, I guess.

They have used soapstone in chemistry labs for years because nothing will stain or be absorbed by this stone. I doubt that any kitchen use chemicals (lemons or clorox or whatever) will harm it in any way.

Our Jucca soapstone counters are now about 6 weeks old. Nothing has stained them, and oil doesn't leave marks because we applied dry wax at the beginning: if we had left them unwaxed, then drips of oil would have shown up as marks for at least awhile. I believe the oil eventually evaporates out, and the stone itself naturally darkens over time. Yes the counters will chip and gouge, and if this bothers you very much you should use different maerial. With a little extra dry wax and rubbing, the chip or gouge recedes into the texture/movement of the stone and the stuff is so beautiful and pleasing to the touch that I don't mind. They are impervious to hot pots, too.

Lynn

I have had mine (santa rita venata, one of the softer varieties) since October. Nothing has stained them or eaten away at them, but YES--they are dinged, gouged, chipped, you name it. I knew this would happen going in and I am at peace with it LOL. We got what our fabricator calls a "Franklin Edge", which is hand worn and thus already uneven; chips etc along the edge therefore don't stand out too much.

I also find that since my soapstone has a lot of movement and veining, any booboos made by us blend in a lot more---is it a gouge or just part of the stone? Who knows?

All I DO know is that I rub my hands along it every day and sometimes have to resist resting my cheek upon my counters....

Here is a link that might be useful: blog post about my soapstone

I've had soapstone (Green Mountain P.A.) for 3 years and love it. No dings or chips. Never have used bleach on them. I suspect , though, bleach would only clean away any oil you have used to darken the counter. To correct the problem you would just re-oil the area.

My soapstone just went in yesterday, so no report yet on how it will hold up. But I do want to give you a heads up you might find the whole world, outside of Gardenweb, trying to talk you out of soapstone. Be prepared for naysayers, most of them poorly informed. One fabricator, for example, openly anti-soapstone, had me pour a Coke on a sample to show me that it would stain and etch. He was surprised, but I wasn't, when there was absolutely no effect.

The samples I got had a huge difference in hardness. Some gouged easily with a key, and some scraped some of metal off the same key when I gave it a good whack. But even the hardest may scratch or chip over time.

Get some chunks. Do some tests. And ask yourself, seriously, if you're a patina person. Do you like things that look pristine, or do are you drawn to character as shown by the marks of years of use?

Thank you so much for the responses. MNerg, that is very interesting about the hardness. I think I can live with patina, it's my husband that needs convincing. It sounds like "things" of any kind getting on the counters is a non-issue!
My husband is still concerned about chips, or rather chunks. He is worried about a huge chunk breaking off if you dropped something large, heavy and metal on it - say an iron maybe?

I haven't read about anything like this - It seems most everyone talks about little chips or dings.

Is is possible for a "chunk" to come off? (Especially on a bar overhang) I understand if I took a sledge hammer to it, or any stone, I could do damage, but what about real life...

Here's a link to a thread where I showed pictures of my soapstone after testing it out with lemon, ketchup, and a water glass.

I've had a couple of small dings and scratches, but nothing that didn't go away with a little oil. Nothing has stained it and we are not a careful family.