I"m guessing it's not a stain but just a place where the oil in the sauce was absorbed and it takes awhile for it to fade. Word has it that Dawn dish soap works well to take out oil absorption.

My understanding is that not much (if anything) will get absorbed into soapstone, but some things can cling to the surface. I was able to stain my samples with food coloring, but the color was just on the very very top layer and disappeared with a very light sanding. A Scotch-brite pad or fine steel wool might have worked as well. Maybe your Softscrub wasn't abrasive enough.

I'd continue your tests. See how deep your stain really goes. See if you can sand spots without affecting the overall continuity of the finish. Have at it, and good luck with your decision.

Tea stained the veins of my soapstone. It will not come off.

Remodelfla-It does have a reddish hue to it that is why I think it is a stain. But at the same time, I did not think soapstone stained. I did use Dawn soap.

mnerg- One of the reasons why I was able to convince DH that we should choose soapstone despite its soft, easy to scratch nature was that it did not stain. I will try the sandpaper tonight

Cotehele- Have you tried sandpaper? Despite the tea stain would you still have chosen soapstone?

If anyone has any photos of their older soapstone counters, I would love to see photos as to how they wear.

No, newbieremodler, I have not tried sanding the stains. My sopastone has a brown tint, so the stains are not obvious, nor are there many of them. I would choose soapstone again without hesitation because I love its other qualities: it is not damaged by exceedingly hot pots, it is very durable-should last for many years, it is beautiful waxed or not. Good luck!

You can try a stone sealer on the sample if you really want soapstone and are worried about stains. It may need more than one coat.

Update- I washed the sample again with dawn when I got home from work today and did not see any stains. So I guess it did just work its way out of the stone. I also do not have any mineral oil for my sample so I think that will help. Thanks everyone!! :)

Here are a few pics of mine - 2 years old - I don't usually oil mine, but the last one is one showed it oiled - also around the sink.

Thanks Prill!! Your stone is so gorgeous. So much white veining! The slab we found does not have a ton of veining but the guy had in stock.

Hi newbieremodeler,

We are also considering soapstone for our soon-to-be new kitchen. I'm curious what kind of soapstone you ordered, or got for your sample. You described it in another recent post as having lots of pretty white veins. Is it one of the softer varieties? I read on GW that the white veins can stain.

By the way, Prill's soapstone in the pictures above is still my dream soapstone. But I'm leaning towards P.A. soapstone for the hardness. Alas, this may sadly mean sacrificing those gorgeous white veins.

Hi newbieremodeler,

We are also considering soapstone for our soon-to-be new kitchen. I'm curious what kind of soapstone you ordered, or got for your sample. You described it in another recent post as having lots of pretty white veins. Is it one of the softer varieties? I read on GW that the white veins can stain.

By the way, Prill's soapstone in the pictures above is still my dream soapstone. But I'm leaning towards P.A. soapstone for the hardness. Alas, this may sadly mean sacrificing those gorgeous white veins.

The slabs we are looking at are from a small place outside of Chicago called "rocktops" that calls the soapstone we are looking at Mariana Reserve Clear or Blue. It is not blue! I think it is a harder variety. Here is a photo of my slab. Its some white veins but nowhere near what prill's has. DH wanted something a little harder. The photo is taken when the stone is wet--which is not quite the same as when it is oiled. Hope this helps! I need to pull the trigger on Monday and buy my slabs. I think I have cold feet since I really wanted a stone more like prill's myself.

If you are in the Chicago/Indiana area I know staticfritz, sugarbreak & ricklish used this same company and ricklish used the same stone after finding santa rita too soft.

Here is a link that might be useful: Soapstone OP