Step into the world of pristine crafting with our guide on “How to Clean Your Cricut Mat.” Whether you’re a seasoned Cricut enthusiast or just starting, maintaining the cleanliness of your cutting mat is key to achieving flawless projects.
In this comprehensive tutorial, we will walk you through the essential steps to keep your Cricut mat in optimal condition, ensuring longevity and consistent performance.
From understanding the frequency of cleaning based on your crafting habits to tailored tips for different materials, we’ve got your Cricut mat care covered. Dive into our expert insights and elevate your crafting experience by learning the art of effective mat cleaning.
How To Clean Cricut Cutting Mats
The adhesive cutting mats, commonly referred to as Cricut mats, serve the purpose of securing items during the cutting process with a Cricut cutting machine. Cricut offers these cutting mats in four different types, each featuring varying levels of adhesion.
Typically, a Cricut cutting mat can endure approximately 40 to 50 uses before displaying signs of wear and reduced stickiness. Contrary to the belief that these mats are indestructible, they do experience degradation over time. However, by maintaining cleanliness and providing occasional care, you can extend the lifespan of your mat.
How Often Should You Clean Your Cricut Mat?
For individuals involved in daily crafting activities using Cricut mats, maintaining a regular cleaning routine becomes more crucial than for those who craft every week. The recommended cleaning frequency typically varies between every 2-4 cuts, depending on the materials being used.
It is advisable to clean the mat whenever a decline in material adhesion is noticed. Materials prone to leaving significant debris, such as felt, denim, glitter vinyl, or leather, may require more frequent cleaning, especially after utilizing the knife blade for wood cutting. However, if your primary materials are smooth, like vinyl and cardstock, you can likely reduce the cleaning frequency.
How To Keep The Mats Clean
The best way to extend the life of your cutting mats is to keep them clean in the first place.
Here are some of the easiest ways to keep the mats clean.
- Clean the mats regularly with a lint roller or scraper. If you don’t have a Cricut scraper tool, you can use an old credit card or plastic gift card to remove scraps from your cutting mat. Simply run the edge of the card across the surface of the mat to release scrap pieces.
- Always replace the plastic protector sheet. Cricut mats come with a clear protective sheet. You can keep your mat cleaner by covering the mat with a protective sheet in between projects. And, if the plastic sheet ever gets dirty, you can wipe it off with a baby wipe or a little squirt of Windex on a paper towel.
- Use the right mat for the right material. Use the LightGrip mat for delicate papers, the FabricGrip mat for fabric, and the StrongGrip mat for heavy-duty materials.
What Can You Use To Clean A Cricut Mat?
These are some of the most widely used cleaning equipment for Cricut mats. You probably already have these as they are affordable and easy to find!
Remember that you may not need all of these materials, depending on the cleaning method you choose.
Supplies and Tools
- plastic Cricut scraper tool
- lint roller
- alcohol-free baby wipes
- Dawn dish soap
- dish brush
- LA’s Awesome cleaning spray
How To Clean A Cricut Mat with Baby Wipes
To carefully clean the mat’s surface without destroying the adhesive, use baby wipes. For optimal results, use baby wipes without alcohol.
Using wipes, all you have to do is wipe the mat in a circular manner until the entire surface is clean. Using two or three wipes could be necessary if the mat is extremely soiled. Apply moderate pressure, taking care not to remove the glue by scratching it. Before using the mat, let it air dry completely.
How To Clean A Cricut Mat with Dish Soap
You can clean a Cricut mat with dish soap and warm water. Choose a mild dish soap like Blue Dawn for the best results. (Don’t use hand soap with lotion or oils.)
- First, use the scraper tool to remove excess material from the mat.
- Then, lay the mat on a flat waterproof surface, like a kitchen counter. Using a clean dishcloth or a soft dish brush, gently scrub the surface of the mat in a circular with soap and warm water.
- Let the air mat dry completely before using.
How To Clean A Cricut Mat With Awesome Spray
Be advised that this approach receives mixed reviews online before attempting it. While some claim it eliminated all stickiness from their mat, others vouch for it. (I would exercise caution because I have only ever needed to use dish soap and warm water.)
Here is how to clean your Cricut mat with Awesome Spray:
- Spray the mat with cleaning spray.
- Let the mat sit for 5-10 minutes.
- Use a squeegee or scraper tool to scrape the residue off the surface of the mat gently. The keyword here is “gently“. Use very light pressure, so you don’t damage the mat.
- Rinse the mat with warm water. Lay flat or hang vertically to dry.
How To Clean The Pink Cricut Fabric Mat
Please take care not to damage or scrape the glue on the pink mat as it is quite sensitive. Larger bits of residual material can be removed with the tweezer tool if necessary.
On the pink mat, you wouldn’t want to use Awesome spray or any other strong cleaning solution.
How To Clean Felt Off Of A Cricut Mat
Felt is one of the hardest materials to remove from a Cricut mat. Even if you follow all the instructions exactly, it still has a fuzzy texture since a lot of lint and dirt remain on the mat.
Using an older, pink or green StandardGrip mat that you don’t mind getting dirty is my #1 piece of advice for cutting felt. Ignore it and set it aside for your felt crafts.
Another option is to use freezer paper to back the felt sheet and place it onto the mat with the paper side facing down. This will shield the Cricut mat from lint and fluff and keep the felt in place while the Circut cuts. Once the cuts are complete, you may remove the frozen paper like
References
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