To get your Cricut project off to the best start possible, it’s important to properly clean your mat before and after cutting with any materials that are new to you, including cardstock and vinyl.
Luckily, if you’re following the steps in this guide, there’s no reason why you can’t have your mat looking brand new in no time! Here’s how to clean your Cricut mat easily and quickly with seven easy steps.
How to Clean Your Cricut Mat in 7 Easy Steps.
Here are Steps to clean Cricut mat.
- Gather Supplies
- Take it outside
- Spray, Scrub, and Wipe Down
- Remove the Sticky Stuff
- Wash Away the Grime
- Lay Out Flat to Dry (OPTIONAL)
- Put Your Mat Back Together
Step 1: Gather Supplies
For the mat, you will need a cleaning solution, paper towels, and a brush or cloth.
You will also want to ensure that you have a surface on which you can lay your mat while it dries.
In my opinion, these are the supplies you should have:
- Wet/Dry vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or (to avoid vacuum) Swiffer Sweeper wet mopping pad with disinfectant spray (or Lysol All Purpose Cleaner diluted 1:1 with water). Paper towels and dish soap may be used if you do not have these items.
- A blow dryer is optional if time permits but should be avoided if possible due to potential heat damage from prolonged exposure to heat sources. If using a blow dryer, use a low-heat setting and move quickly over the entire area of the mat that has been cleaned.
Step 2: Take it outside
You can use a wet sponge or cloth to wipe down your mat. Make sure you’re not using anything too rough or abrasive, like steel wool.
You’ll want the mat as clean as possible without damaging the blades. After wiping down your mat, rinse it with cold water and dry it off with a towel.
This step is important because you don’t want any soap residue left on the mat before you start cutting again. To make sure that your mat is completely dry, you can place it near a fan or air conditioner while making sure not to let any part of the mat touch the blades.
It’s also a good idea to occasionally flip your mat over so both sides are equally exposed. For those who want to take it one step further, you can use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide diluted with water and rub it onto the surface of the mat.
Remember: always rinse with cold water and then dry out completely!
Step 3: Spray, Scrub and Wipe Down
Spray the mat with your chosen cleaner and allow it to soak for a few minutes. Rinse the scrub brush, if you’re using one, with water and scrub at any stubborn areas of dirt or grime.
For stubborn spots, you may use a dishwasher detergent instead of soap. Rinse the mat thoroughly with water after scrubbing. Allow it dry before storing it!
If there are stains on the mat that cannot be removed by either soap or dishwasher detergent, mix some hydrogen peroxide with baking soda until you have a paste consistency. Apply this paste to the stained area and scrub as needed.
In general, fabric mats can also be placed in the washer along with towels and delicate for regular washing. Machine-washable mats should not be used in high heat settings because they will melt more quickly than non-machine washable versions!
Step 4: Remove the Sticky Stuff
Removing the sticky stuff is a huge pain but it’s worth it. The first thing you need to do is cut up some old towels into small pieces. Place them on a flat surface and place your mat on top of the towel. Use a heavy book or box and place it on top of the mat.
This will create pressure which will help remove the sticky stuff from the mat. You may have to put some weight on there for an hour or two before you get all of it off, so make sure your book/box is heavy enough! Once the sticky stuff has been removed, use soap and water to clean up any residue left behind.
Then, let your mat air dry!
5: Wash Away the Grime
Once you’re all done, you’ll need to put your mat back together. Make sure that the mat is dry before turning it over so that the adhesive on the underside of the mat doesn’t stick.
Put one side over the other and make sure they line up properly. Finally, use a credit card or something similar to smooth out any bumps and make sure everything is flush together.
If there are any places where you see an air bubble forming, just pop it with your fingers and rub it out with a credit card or other surface. Now’s the time to get out your heat gun!
Run it over the top and bottom of the mat for about 5-10 seconds, depending on how hot you want your mat.
You can also do this without using heat if you want. That will help set everything into place and prevent those pesky bubbles from coming back when your next project comes along.
Step 6: Lay Out Flat to Dry (OPTIONAL)
Once your mat is dry, you can lay it out on a flat surface. The mat should be completely cool before removing it from the dish rack or drying rack.
NEVER PUT A WARM MAT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT OR ON A HOT SURFACE THAT WILL MELT YOUR MAT PLASTIC. If you do not have access to a flat surface, I recommend laying a towel or two out on the floor and then laying the mat down on top of that.
Step 7: Put Your Mat Back Together
After you have completed the cleaning process, it is time to put your mat back together. Pull the two halves of your mat apart and lay one half on a flat surface. The side with the blade is usually on top, but this can vary depending on which side you had face down during the cleaning process.
Place your mat guide on top of the other half so that they match up evenly. Line up one edge, then start pressing down so that it sticks and continues to line up with the other edge.
You should hear a clicking sound as they connect.
Repeat until they are both clicked into place, then flip over and repeat for the other side of your mat!
Conclusion:
As I promised at the starting, you must have been convinced that you can clean your Cricut mat as good as new after following the seven steps explained above.
Cleaning the Cricut mat is not so hard. You have to follow regular routine as per your use of the mat to keep it neat and clean.