Care

How to clean Thirstystone sandstone coasters

A sandstone coaster asks for very little: a damp cloth now and then, and air to dry in.

Everyday

Wipe the face with a cloth wrung out in warm water. If the coaster has taken a lot of water, stand it on edge so air reaches both sides, and give it a few hours before it goes back under a glass.

A wet ring on sandstone is water in the stone, not a stain. It fades as the coaster dries.

Coffee, tea and wine

Sandstone drinks whatever is in the drip, so a coaster that sits under coffee, tea or red wine can take on some of the color. A light tone that stays is part of the stone's life on a busy table. If it bothers you, keep that coaster for water glasses and give the dark drinks a cork or marble one.

What to keep off the stone

Skip bleach and strong cleaners: they soak in along with the water. The Natural Stone Institute advises a neutral cleaner, stone soap or a mild dishwashing liquid with warm water on natural stone, and warns that lemon, vinegar and other acids can etch calcareous stone such as marble.

Do not put any of our coasters in the dishwasher, and do not soak the cork backs.

Marble, wood and cork

Marble keeps a drip on its face: wipe it and dry it. Wood and cork want a damp cloth and a dry towel, never a soak.

This is general information about caring for stone, wood and cork pieces, not a substitute for the care card in the box or the advice of the maker of your table's finish.

What the public sources say

Natural Stone Institute, "Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone". Advises coasters under all glasses, particularly those with alcohol or citrus juice, and trivets or mats even though many stones withstand heat; recommends a neutral cleaner, stone soap or mild dishwashing liquid with warm water, rinsing and drying with a soft cloth; warns that lemon, vinegar and other acids may dull or etch calcareous stone such as marble, and that scouring powders may scratch it. Read November 1, 2026.
Geological Digressions, "Mineralogy of sandstones: Porosity and permeability". Explains intergranular porosity as the void space between sand grains, given as a share of the rock volume (well sorted sands start at 30% to 40%), and permeability as the connection between those pores through narrow pore throats, which clay cements can block. Read November 1, 2026.