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How to Clean Soapstone Tiles?

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Soapstone tiles is a type of soft stone mined from quarries, similar to limestone and granite. Since it’s naturally non-porous and stain-resistant, it makes a popular choice for household surfaces like countertops and sinks. Another one of Soapstone tiles’s perks is that it’s easy to clean, though there are a few important maintenance tasks that you’ll want to stay on top of.


Start by giving your Soapstone tiles a preliminary coat of mineral oil to lubricate it and give it a deep, rich charcoal color. After that, get in the habit of re-oiling your Soapstone tiles surface every few months to keep them looking their best. Rub the oil into the Soapstone tiles with a clean, dry cloth.


Polish the surface using smooth, circular motions, working your way gradually from one end to the other. Fold your cloth or sponge or press your fingers into a central point to penetrate into corners and narrow recesses. When you’re finished, inspect the surface from various angles. It should appear faintly glossy all over. If you’ve missed a spot, it will be obvious.


If you apply the oil unevenly, some sections of the Soapstone tiles make turn out darker than others. Allow the oil to sit for about half an hour. Remember, the oil won’t actually soak into the Soapstone tiles. What it’s doing is trapping moisture against the outer surface of the stone, which will eventually cause it to oxidize and take on a deep, rich, near-black color.


Soapstone tiles fresh from the quarry is a very light gray color. After a few coats of mineral oil will darken it to a more robust earthy tone. Use a separate cloth to remove any excess oil. Take a second clean, dry, lint-free cloth or paper towel and run it over the top of the Soapstone tiles. Doing so will pick up any lingering oil residue, leaving the surface sleek and ready for use.

How Replacing a Small Tile?

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If your wall tile is smaller than 3 in × 3 in (7.6 cm × 7.6 cm) and you don’t want to damage the ones surrounding it, drill 5 holes in an X-shape through the tile with a carbide masonry drill bit. Use a hammer and a chisel on the holes to chip the tile out.

Pry up the edge of the tile with a chisel. Slide the end blade of your chisel underneath the tile and pull up on the handle to lift it. If the tile is still stuck, hit the end of the chisel’s handle with your hammer to break apart your tile. Work slowly so you don’t accidentally chip any of the tiles next to the one you’re trying to remove.

If you don’t have a chisel, use the back of a claw hammer to lift and pry the tile off of the surface. Use your chisel to scrape off the mortar. Set the chisel blade on the surface next to the adhesive mortar. Apply a firm amount of pressure to the chisel, working in short back and forth motions to scrape the mortar off. Once you’ve removed it all, use a vacuum to get rid of the residue.

Make sure the surface is completely smooth or else you won’t be able to lay another wall tile in flat. Smooth the floor using a floor scraper. Floor scrapers have a wider edge than a hand maul or chisel, as well as a longer handle, making it easier to scrape the floor.

Use a floor scraper to smooth out any rough patches resulting from the tile or grout removal, pushing the edge of the scraper against the floor in precise, forward motions. You can find a floor scraper at a home improvement store or online.

How Preventing Injuries and Damages to Remove Floor Tile?

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Remove items that are on the tile floor. In order to remove the floor tile, move any appliances or other items that are covering the floor. You can place them on a stable counter in the room or in another room entirely. These items might include trash cans, kitchen islands, drying racks, or toilet accessories.

Put on proper safety attire to protect yourself from flying debris. Removing floor tile can cause injuries if you’re not properly protected, so put on leather work gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, and pants to protect your hands, arms, and legs from getting cut. You should also wear protective eyewear and a dust mask.

Knee pads are super useful for protecting your knees while you’re kneeling on the floor tiles. Wear closed-toe shoes to protect your feet while you’re working.

Cover surfaces that you don’t want to get dirty. This includes the bottom of walls, cabinets, and any other surface that’s close to the floor. Dust and pieces of tile will likely fly up while you’re working, so it’s best to cover necessary areas with plastic so that you have less cleanup once your project is finished.

Use painter’s tape to attach the plastic to surfaces. It’s a good idea to cover the tops of surfaces as well if you will likely be laying your materials or tools on the counter.