Cleaning or resticking a Cricut mat will save you some money buy you have to get your hands dirty. If you mid getting your hands dirty, cleaning the mat is not for you, and after all, after a while, new mats eventually have to be bought.
This article will show you how to clean your Cricut cutting mat and revive it to an optimal condition and ways to restick your mat.
Cricut Mat Cleaning Tools
To clean a Cricut mat, you don't need any special tools or materials, and most of them can be found in your house. They include:
- Lint roller
- Plastic Cricut scraper tool
- Dawn Dish Soap
- Alcohol-free baby wipes
- Dish Brush
- Cleaning Spray Adhesive
Methods for Cleaning your Cricut Mat
1. Light-Duty Cleaning Methods
These light cleaning methods can be used after every project for the maintenance of the mat.
Using a Scraper Tool
Using the plastic scraper that comes with your cutting machine, run the material along the surface of the mat gently. Run it systematically to successfully remove the small debris like hair, stray, or fuzz. Repeat this process several times before going to the next step.
Using Lint Rollers
A lint roller will help you eliminate any small pieces of leftover material stuck to the mat. Roll the tool over the mat's surface to pick any small pieces of paper, fuzzies, or glitter. This method can be done every day or whenever you notice fibers and bits accumulating on your mat.
Baby Wipes
Baby wipes are damp and soft enough to clean your Cricut mat without damaging them. However, you should only use alcohol-free, bleach-free, cornstarch-free, or lotion-free baby wipes to prevent losing the mat's stickiness forever. Use the plainest baby wipes to prevent coating your mats with additional solvents, oils, or lotions that could break down the adhesive and lose stickiness.
Make sure you wipe the surface of the mat in a circular motion using gentle pressure to avoid scratching the adhesive off. You may use one wipe or up to 3 wipes if your mat is filthy, and then leave the mat to air dry completely before you can use it again.
2. Medium-Duty Cleaning Methods
Medium duty methods are to be used if gentle methods have failed to work. They are meant for cleaning Cricut cake mats.
Using a Dish Soap
You can use soap and warm water to clean your mat but don't use hand soap with oils or lotion. It is advisable to choose a mild dish soap like the Dawn dish soap for excellent results.
i. Remove all the gum paste, frosting, or fondant
ii. Start with using the plastic scraper tool to remove any excess material from the mat
iii. Lay the mat on a flat waterproof surface like a floor or the kitchen counter. If the mat has stubborn stains, you can use a clean dishcloth or a soft dish brush to gently scrub the mat in a circular motion using soap and warm water. Avoid using hot water as heat is said to warp Cricut mats, and as a result, they don't fit well in your machine. If you don't have a brush, you can use a sponge or a Magic eraser.
3. Heavy-Duty Cleaning Methods
The heavy cleaning methods should be used on a greasy or filthy mat, and you may need to use an adhesive remover for other types of debris. Most people's standard way of cleaning their Cricut mats is using the LA's Totally Awesome spray, which you can purchase online or at your local convenience store. Another popular product to clean Cricut mats is the Goo Gone.
i. Start by spraying the mat with the cleaning spray and leave your mat with the spray for around 5 to 10 minutes
ii. Using a scraper tool or a squeegee, scrape the residue off the mat's surface gently using light pressure to avoid damaging it.
iii. Rinse your mat with warm water and hang it vertically or lay it flat to dry.
Tips and Tricks to Effectively Clean a Cricut Mat
i. Always let the mat air dry completely regardless of which method you use for cleaning your Cricut cutting mats. You can do this by hanging the mat up vertically or placing it on a drying rack. To dry faster, you can aim a fan in the direction of your mat to increase air circulation.
ii. On the list of do not's, you should avoid using heat as heat can damage the mat or wiping the mat with a towel or paper towel. This is because it would cover the mat sticky surface with fuzz and lint you are trying to remove.
iii. It is not a wise idea to use nail varnish remover or any harsh adhesive to clean the surfaces to avoid destroying the stickiness.
iv. If you use materials that leave a lot of debris, you may need to clean the mat more often, especially after cutting any wood material with the knife blade.
v. Ensure when cleaning your cutting mats, you are away from things that may bring dust, dirt, or lint to your mat and make it duller.
How to Make a Cricut Mat Sticky Again
If your mat is old or too damaged, cleaning may not work, and the other solution may be to find a way to make it sticky again. However, it would be best if you kept in mind that resticking your Cricut cutting mat may void your Cricut machine warranty because adding glue to your mat can the machine to jam because of excess adhesive. If you don't want to restick your mat, you can purchase a new one.
You can use various adhesives on your Cricut mats for extra stickiness, and some include Spray n Bond Basting, Tacky Glue, Zig Adhesive, Loctite and Krylon brand, etc.
Steps to Help You Restick Your Cutting Mat
i. Clean your mat by removing any dirt and debris with the plastic scraper tool, then use the wipes or soap and water to finish the step.
ii. Once you have cleaned the mat, tape off the edges of the mat in preparation for the application of the new adhesive. Make sure you use the blue painter's tape or masking tape to protect the mat's outer border.
iii. Go ahead to apply the new adhesive following the directions on the back of the can to spray the adhesive on the cutting mat.
iv. Leave the cutting mat for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the adhesive to dry.
Conclusion
This article has sufficiently addressed everyone that was asking how to clean a Cricut mat. It has proved that Cricut mats are not so hard to clean and that to clean your mat, you just need to know what needs to be done and to know how to make use of the readily available cleaning products.
After cleaning, the mat will continue serving the owner by producing amazing designs. The above-explained process is easy to use and needs a relatively short time to be affected, which means that someone can have all his Cricut mats clean all the time.
