Can soapstone be left untreated?
Natural soapstone is beautiful. However, in a kitchen counter application we prefer to apply a sealer to the finished counter. A sealer will maintain the natural grain and color of the stone without darkening it, and make cleaning spills and stains almost effortless. An alternative to sealer is to apply mineral oil. Mineral oil will darken the stone considerably and require periodic re-oiling to maintain the dark finish. If you are uncertain which you will prefer, you can try applying mineral oil to the underside of one of the counters before you install it.
