From Don-isewman- A ??? on cutting mats
 

I play around with my cutting mat, when wanting to get it clean up. Does anyone, have a SPECIAL WAY in which they clean their cutting mats. Or to clean up some of the fine cutting lines on the mats surface. I soak mine in water & a little bleach(vinegar) sometimes.. Sometime, a cleaner used on clothing and let it soak for a little time.. Any suggestion, to help will be a wonderful.. I even sometimes take a fine sand paper to the mat surface. Thanks every one Don-isewman

I don't know about all the other things but I have found that a regular pink eraser with remove the 'fuzzys' from all the cuts in your board. :)

Usually just wipe it over with a damp cloth or if it's really messy go over it with a very worn green pot scrubber. My mat is on it's last legs....my husband got me a new one, but I'm trying to use my old one 'til the bitter end (I am very frugal). Will be interested to see what everyone else does.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/search....archid=3859451 from advanced search of the board.

I use the yellow or green square pot cleaners to clean my board after each use, it gets in the lines from cutting.
As for cleaning with water or such I have never done that. But the pot scrubbers are GREAT.

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers work pretty well.

I hope you mean bleach OR vinegar, not both together. That would release toxic chlorine gas!

I use a 'magic eraser' really works on mine....am always surprised at how dirty the eraser gets but does a nice job

I found out on a blog somewhere information from Olfa regarding mats

TIPS FROM OLFA</SPAN></SPAN>

To clean and hydrate a mat:</SPAN></SPAN>

Fill up a tub (or sink) big enough to submerge your mat. You need to do a gallon of water to 1/4 cup of vinegar ratio. Make sure the water is cool. Once you have enough liquid, submerge your mat and wipe off any residue. Use Dove or Ivory dish soap and work into a lather over your mat. Rinse off. Self healing mats love moisture and the more supple they are, the kinder they will be to your rotary blade. Wipe your mat off with a towel.</SPAN></SPAN>


To straighten out a warped mat:</SPAN></SPAN>

What you need:</SPAN></SPAN>
A warm day</SPAN></SPAN>
A warped mat</SPAN></SPAN>
Concrete</SPAN></SPAN>
Piece of clean, flat plywood at least as big as your mat</SPAN></SPAN>
Piece of heavy glass as big at least as big as your mat</SPAN></SPAN>
Lay your flat plywood on the concrete. Put the warped olfs mat on top. Cover with the glass. Leave outside in the heat all day. When night falls or the next day comes while it is still cooler, remove your mat and you will be left with a mat that is “reset” to flat.</SPAN></SPAN>

Using a rotary cutter :</SPAN></SPAN>
To save your hands: every Olfa cutter has a little set of ridges to indicate the best ergonomic position for your hands. Put your finger (I use my index finger) or thumb on those ridges to help decrease any joint pain.</SPAN></SPAN>

Wow Quiltstringz - great info - thanks for sharing!

I appreciate the tips. Thank you for all of the advice on cleaning my mat. I'll have to give these suggestions a try and see which one I like the best.

I wish I had known this in July! LOL I have the heavy glass from our old Clear View windows that were in the farm house. I use them for shelves at our quilt show. We put 2x4's under them and can store extra pies there so that we can see them as we serve the pies that are lined up on top of the glass.
I also have written a "Tip" for our quilt club list that includes: Never let your cutting mat near anything hot; that includes your iron, hot water, your coffee cup, your hot car nor the sun from your window.

I have gently used very, very fine sandpaper with a block of wood, with paper wrapped around it. I have also used those rubber scrubbers that do not scratch the surface.

The pot scrubbers crocheted from nylon net do a great job of removing the fuzzies from a cutting board.

I simply clean my mat with my lint roller. That works just fine and I seldom need to use that. What are you guys cutting that make such a mess?
Sue

Thanks for the info, quiltstringz.

I use a mat smoother soak it down in the tub

I use the sticky lables that come on fat 1/4 's to rub over and pick up the threads and fibers that get caught in the mat. For a bigger than normal , I use a nylon pot scrubber, and soak in water.

Thanks for the great advice.

I do as susie-susie-susie does....I have a sticky lint remover that I roll over my mats when they need cleaning...they work great!

I use the pot scrubber for the non stick pans. Works great and cheap at $ store.

another uwse for really worn out old mats cou possible be for bag bottoms . somethign hard you place at the bottom of a hand made bag for support .

I just bought a new one too, but I am using my old one to cut batting or fleece (esp. the cuts for tied fleece blankets) because it seems that fuzz really gets into and stay in the cut. I don't remember if it was on this board or somewhere else, someone suggested to cut old boards and use them in bottoms of purses/bags and/or a smaller board for squaring up so you can turn it quickly on top of another larger board. hope that makes sense. I'm sure you wouldn't throw it, right, because we quilters are FRUGAL and never throw anything!

Maybe you've never cut fleece with a rotary cutter on your mat. It makes quite a mess!

I bought a cutting mat cleaner. It says it's a natural product. It looks like it's a soft plastic to me. It bends and it's about 5" long and 2" wide and angled at each end and you brush the cleaner across the cutting mat. Imbedded fibers are being pulled out of the crevassas as you brush it across. I clean it under cold water afterwards (the cleaner). You can find it here: www.designstoshare.com. I bought it at my local quilt shop a couple of years ago and it seems to work really well. I really really really like it. I paid $6.00 for it. Probably can find it for less if you go directly to the company or to an online store.

The fleece or batting is what gets my board! I will be trying these tips.

I use a damp cloth to go over the mat. Then I use very very fine sandpaper and it takes everything up and smooths it all out when I feel knicks in the mat. Otherwise I use the Mr. Clean Erasers and wipe gently over the mat. I have had my mat for a couple years now and there are no gouges in though either. I only press as hard as I need to in order to cut the fabric.

LOL..I have never cleaned my mat, never even thought about it...I just went and looked...still looks clean.

This board is so great. I had no idea my mat liked water. This week they are going to get a treat or would that be a treatment! Anyway I'm sure they and my blades will be much happier. Thanks for the info.