The maintenance on soapstone is minimal in my experience. The "imperfections" and slight scratching are part of it's charm, and it's developing patina over time. We were prepared for this and were lucky enough to see a ten year old soapstone counter in a showroom - and we fell in love. We only oil ours down a couple of times a year with cheap mineral oil - it's simply not difficult. In between, all we use on the counter tops is plain water and possibly water and vinegar spray. Soapstone will not stain and is impervious to heat, and needs no sealing. The oiling is totally optional and is basically just to bring out the veining. It looks great in a rustic, industrial, or vintage style kitchen but probably wouldn't be the best choice for someone who was expecting a sleek, polished look. Here is our counter top after two years of constant use.