If you are new to using a Cricut machine or if you have never cleaned your mat before, then this article is for you! I will show you how to properly clean your mat so that it lasts as long as possible. Save yourself time and money by learning the best ways to clean your Cricut mat at home. With these tips and tricks, you can keep your mat in the best possible condition and help to prevent unnecessary damage to your mat and your expensive Cricut machine.
How To Clean Your Cricut Mat And Make It Sticky Again
The Cricut mat has been specifically designed to secure fabric for cutting, with easy removal, and works as a complementary tool with the Cricut branded Rotary Blade or bonded fabric blade projects.
The mat has been designed with a stronger, denser material that withstands the added weight of those blades.
Your Cricut mat is the material on which you cut all of your crafting projects. There are currently four different types of mats available: Light grip, standard grip, strong grip, and fabric.
You'll need a different mat depending on the materials that you're working with, but whatever mat you choose to use, you'll need to clean it properly to keep it in the best condition.
If you've ever used a Cricut machine for crafting, you'll know that having a mat that is nice and sticky is perfect for the job and is your key to crafting success when you're using a Cricut machine.
The best way to keep a Cricut mat nice and tacky is to clean it often, but you want to be careful to not take off the stickiness when doing so!
The annoying thing about Cricut mats is that the sticky surface loves to attract dirt and dust, let alone the scraps that get left on it from projects and the general offcuts that come with crafting!
This means that over time, your mat will start looking less and less like a shiny, smooth, sticky surface and more and more like an old, dirty, dusty one!
How To Extend The Life Of Your Cricut
Cleaning your mat regularly helps to ensure that it stays in good shape and prevents it from becoming damaged. If your mat becomes dirty, it could cause the machine to jam up.
This means that you will need to spend more time cleaning your mat instead of being able to use your machine.
Cleaning your mat also keeps your mat from getting stuck on the cutting blade while you cut. This can make it difficult to remove the paper from the mat and can even cause the blade to break.
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Supplies Needed
- Lint rollers - these are great for removing tough dirt that won't get picked up by baby wipes.
- Plastic scraper tool - if using a plastic scraper tool, be really careful to not scrape the sticky layer on your mat.
- Adhesive spray - if you are trying to get back the tacky glue surface, use some spray adhesive over the entire surface of your cutting mat, removing any of the excess glue with a couple of paper towels around the outside.
- Dry paper towel - place your mat on a bit of paper towel to protect any surfaces from getting sticky and from falling debris whilst cleaning your mat.
How Often Should You Clean Your Cricut Mat?
It depends on how often you are using your Cricut, as well as what kinds of materials you are using for your Cricut crafting projects.
Generally speaking, you should clean your mat after every 2-4 cuts. Clean it at least once every week, but ideally twice per week if you use it everyday.
It's important to remember that the mat needs to stay wet, but not soaking during the cleaning process.
If you happen to get any sticky residue, additional scraps, or dirt on your Cricut mat, don't wait, clean it immediately to stop it from messing up your Cricut machine or sticking too much and creating a bigger mess.
What’s The Best Way To Clean It?
When you clean your mat, you should always start with a damp cloth. Using too much water can wash away some of that lovely stickiness.
Soaking the mat in warm water for about 5 minutes is enough to get rid of most of the dirt and grime without compromising the tacky surface.
The best thing to do after soaking your mat is to let it dry completely.
Light Cleaning
If you are only trying to remove a small amount of debris, or just doing a daily clean to keep things ship-shape, a light clean might be all that you need!
When you purchase your mat, you should receive a small plastic scraper. You can use this to lightly scrape off any unwanted debris and dirt from your Cricut mat without too much extra hassle.
This can be done whilst your Cricut mat is still dry, so there's no need to get too technical with this one.
Simply scrape your mat from top to bottom, making sure to press lightly so that you don't scrape off any of the adhesive coatings that keep the Cricut mat sticky when you use it for your crafting projects.
Baby Wipes
If you don't have too much stuck on gunk, you can clean your mat with baby wipes.
Baby wipes are great because they are gentle and won't damage your mat or the machine itself.
They are also very affordable, which makes them perfect for regular cleaning.
Just take a few baby wipes and wipe down your mat. Make sure to rub gently around the edges of the mat to help loosen any stubborn bits of gunk.
Once you've cleaned your mat, make sure to leave it to dry completely before continuing with your next project.
Dish Soap
If you are looking for a stronger cleaning method, this is the one to go for.
With a little bit of warm water and a dab of dish soap, you can clean off some of the dirty surface layers without removing too much of the adhesive material.
- Start by applying your water solution to your mat, in a circular motion. Use medium pressure to remove any debris.
- Remove this dish soap mixture with some clear lukewarm water before patting dry.
- During this process, be sure to not add too much water, as this can affect the amount of stickiness of your mat.
How To Make Your Cricut Mat Sticky Again
- Apply masking tape around the edges of the mat to protect it from overspray
- Lightly spray with spray adhesive
- Let dry
- If you spray too much adhesive you can condition it by rubbing an old cotton t shirt over the mat to remove some of the stickiness.
Warning: Use this method with extreme caution. Too much adhesive an ruin your Cricut machine and it is much less expensive to purchase a new mat that a new machine.
With a little time and love, you can keep your Cricut mat in tip-top condition, and protect your expensive machine from unnecessary damage and harm.
By keeping your mat dust and gunk free, you can keep it sticky and ready for action at a moment's notice.
We hope these tips and tricks have shown you how easy it is to take care of your Cricut mat and keep it in the best possible shape to extend its lifespan and the lifespan of your Cricut machine.
Happy crafting!
Hi I’m Adrienne Carrie Hubbard. I believe a rich life comes not from the things you have, but the things you do; the experiences you create and the people you meet along the way. Thanks for hanging out!