Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Quick answer
Red wine does not soak into soapstone because it is non-porous and does not react with acid. Blot it, wipe with warm soapy water and dry. Any tint left behind usually comes off with a non-abrasive cream cleaner.
First, check what you are dealing with
- Colour sitting on the surface: dried wine. It cleans off.
- A faint tint after cleaning: give it a cream cleaner and a day of light.
What you need
- Paper towel
- pH-neutral dish liquid
- Soft cloth
- Non-abrasive cream cleaner
Step by step
Blot, do not wipe
Soak up any liquid with paper towel straight away. Wiping spreads it across a bigger area.
Wash the area
Clean with warm water and a few drops of pH-neutral dish liquid, rinse and dry with a soft cloth so you can see what is left on the soapstone.
Lift any tint
Work a little non-abrasive cream cleaner over the area with a damp soft cloth, then rinse and dry.
What not to use on soapstone
- Scourers, steel wool and abrasive creams on a polished surface.
- Mixing cleaning chemicals, especially bleach with anything else.
When to call a professional
If a mark will not lift, ask a repairer before using anything stronger. Most soapstone repairs are DIY: fine sandpaper and mineral oil. A stonemason can smooth chipped edges.
Understanding red wine stains on soapstone
Soapstone is dense and non-porous, so it does not really stain; it darkens where oil or water touches it, which evens out with oiling.
Most soapstone repairs are DIY: fine sandpaper and mineral oil. A stonemason can smooth chipped edges.
Good to know
Soapstone is one of the few benchtop materials completely unbothered by red wine: it neither stains nor etches.
Stop it happening again
Whether yours is benchtop-grade steatite, usually charcoal or grey-green, repairing it fixes today's mark; protecting it stops the next one. Our clear Stone Protection Film sits over the surface, so marks stay on the film, not the surface. Most soapstone is honed and oiled, so the Matte/Satin film is the usual match: it keeps the natural, low-sheen look. It is installed across Sydney with a 10-year written warranty.
How we protect soapstone · Stain removal guide · Red wine stains on every surface