Caring for Your Slate Coasters
Slate is a natural stone that's durable and beautiful — and easy to maintain with a little know-how. Follow these guidelines to keep your coasters looking their best for years to come.
🧼 Cleaning
- Everyday cleaning: Wipe with a damp cloth or sponge and mild dish soap. Rinse and dry immediately.
- Dishwasher use: Not recommended. The heat and pressure cycles may affect the surface finish and may crack the stone.
- Avoid abrasive scrubbers or harsh chemical cleaners (bleach, acetone, ammonia-based products), as these can strip finish coatings and create scratches that will disrupt the image that is engraved.
🌬️ Drying
- Always air-dry or hand-dry your coasters after cleaning — place them upright or flat on a dry towel.
- Avoid stacking wet coasters, as trapped moisture between pieces can cause surface marks.
☕ Heat & Cold Limits
- Slate is naturally heat-resistant and handles normal beverage temperatures (hot coffee, cold drinks) well.
- Do not place directly on open flame as this may create marks effecting the finish.
- Condensation from cold drinks is fine — that's what coasters are for. No special precautions needed for iced beverages.
🍷 Stain Handling
- For light stains (coffee, tea, wine): simply wiping with water and paper towl will do the job.
- For oil-based stains: a small amount of dish soap worked in gently, then rinsed thoroughly, typically does the job.
- Sealed coasters are more stain-resistant — unsealed slate is naturally more porous and may absorb liquids more readily over time. See the Sealing & Finish section below.
🛡️ Sealing & Finish Options
- Unsealed slate has a natural matte, raw-stone look. It's more porous, which can mean it absorbs liquids faster and shows stains more readily — but it retains the most authentic stone texture and feel.
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Sealed slate has a light protective coating that improves stain resistance and makes cleaning easier. The finish will have a slight sheen compared to raw slate.
✏️ Engraving Care
- Engraved areas are etched into the stone itself, making the design permanent and not subject to peeling or fading like surface printing.
- Does engraving survive washing? Yes — because the design is carved into the slate, gentle hand-washing will not affect the engraving.
- Avoid using stiff brushes or abrasive pads directly on engraved areas, as these can add scratches and effecting the engraving.
- If your coasters are sealed, note that re-sealing over an engraving may slightly reduce its visual contrast. Consider masking engraved areas lightly when reapplying sealant.
📦 Storage
- Store coasters flat or in a coaster holder to avoid chipping the edges by accident.
- For gifting or long-term storage, keep in the original packaging or wrap individually in soft cloth.
Have a question not covered here? Contact us — we're happy to help.