There are many varieties of soapstone, ranging in hardness from the very soft kinds used for carving to the very hardest ones we use for countertops. Yes, soapstone countertops will scratch more easily than granite, which can withstand the most extreme abuse any countertop is likely to experience!  But soapstone countertops have been a top choice for hundreds of years in hard working kitchens of Europe & New England (ask Martha Stewart!). They aren't 'polished granite' perfect even when they're new, so another material might be preferable where you want countertops with a formal, dressy appearance.

Think of soapstone as you would think about fine hardwood furniture - part of the appeal is that it wears gently. The warm, friendly feel of new soapstone countertops is enhanced by the patina that develops from all the tiny scratches they get over time making them a great choice for a casual, family-friendly kitchen.  Of course you may want to avoid unnecessary damage to hard-working areas by using a cutting board--or not... 

However: if you scratch the counter badly, you can always sand the scratch away with a piece of sandpaper. That's in contrast to most other countertop surfaces, where scratches are often permanent. Also, the process of oiling hides most small scratches. If you spill paint on it, you can sand the whole thing off and start again. Soapstone is very forgiving surface for your kitchen.

What if I like the look of soapstone, but don't think I can live with the scratches?

If the relative softness of soapstone isn't a characteristic you think you'd cherish, you would be wise to consider another countertop material because it what it is. Nothing else looks or feels just like it, but luckily, thanks to high demand, low supply and the somewhat higher cost of soapstone, there are more and more alternatives available all the time. You might want to check out a honed black granite, Cambrian Black from Canada is a favorite of ours. Honed Absolute Black, an anorthocite many people call granite, is non-porous, very hard and an economical choice.  Pietra di Cardosa is an Italian schist and another popular alternative that's harder than soapstone, though not quite as hard as granite, but it is porous like granite and will need to be sealed to prevent staining.

How do I seal my soapstone counters?

You don't. Soapstone is extremely non-porous, and unlike limestone or marble, it's chemically inert and won't react to anything it's exposed to. That's why soapstone has traditionally been used for laboratory work-tops. So using a stone sealer is a waste of time and money.

You can leave the stone naturally light gray, but when skin or food oil touches soapstone, it makes the stone go dark. This dries out and the light color returns over time, but it can make the countertop blotchy looking where people touch it frequently or in food prep areas.

Oiling Soapstone?

You should oil Soapstone using clear Mineral Oil. Mineral Oil is sold in most drugstores ($3.00/bottle) as a laxative, so its completely safe for humans. The oil isn't sealing the stone, it's only a cosmetic that makes the whole countertop uniformly dark by oxidizing the surface. You need to oil the countertop only to keep it looking the color you like - if you want it uniformly black, oil it frequently, maybe once a week. If you like your stone a little lighter in color, and don't care if its darker here or there, then you could oil it once a month.

After about 12 oilings, the counter will stay dark pretty much permanently. Be sure to mop up excess oil after its applied and the surface won't be sticky when it dries in an hour or so. Don't use olive or vegetable oils, they can get rancid if you don't buff thoroughly. Linseed oil can dry to a sticky varnish.

What about hot pots? Can I put them on the countertop?

Absolutely, soapstone is actually used to build fireplaces and wood-stoves because it can handle very high temperatures without cracking, and it stores heat and radiates it over time. It's a GREAT material for fireplaces, with technical advantages over other stone.

I wanted to get Soapstone in a different color