I was reading quilt blogs this morning and kept clicking random links and found this info about mats.

If you have a self healing cutting mat it needs to be re hydrated to stay self healing. When the moisture is gone the mat dries out and will have cut marks and dull your blade. Soak the mat in room temp water for about and hour, let dry. That's all you have to. The mat will be soft and be like new again. I have one old mat soaking now. I'll post if it makes a difference. I don't think June Taylor mats are self healing. I have an Olfa one soaking.

kewl, I'm going to try it when I get home, I had been thinking about wiping it down with sewers aid.

I bookmarked this so when I need it I will know where to look.

Woo~ I'm going to try this! :D

Me too.

How big is it? I am trying to think what on earth I could soak my large (36in long) mat in?

Me too. My mat must be 12yrs old and bone dry by now.

Put water in bath tub, let come to room temp, then soak mat. would this work? Just a thought.

This is from
http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...tting-mat.html

OLFA Cutting Mats love moisture!

It is recommended that you soak your mat from time to time. Your self healing mat loves moisture.

To soak it, put your mat in a bathtub or large container (would have to be large so it can lay flat) and soak it for 15-20 in a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar to every gallon of cool water. Let me repeat, cool water. Do this every so often to help extend its useful life.

Then use a squirt of mild dishwashing soap (Ivory) and clean the mat with a mushroom brush (soft is the key word here). The purpose of this gentle scouring is to remove the fibers that get trapped in the cuts marks preventing the cuts from "healing".

Keep 'em clean, keep 'em moist, keep 'em flat and NO heat. Your cutting mat is not a coffee cup coaster!

Thank you for this information :D:D:D