Local Wal-Mart has closed fabric dept.(ARGHHH! I guess I didn't shop there enough to keep them in business!)

Anyway- I bought a new cutting mat- 24 x 36, pink. I needed a new one desperately. Problem is- it STINKS to high heaven. Like faint smell of skunk.

It's been 2 weeks of sitting on my cutting table and it still smells- I smell it as soon as I come up the stairs.

I don't want to cut on it in case the smell goes into the fabric. Any ideas on how to get rid of the smell? Anything I can rub into it- alcohol?- without removing the lines?

Thanks for your help!

P.S. My old self healing one is 20 years old- I was thinking about it- I've had it before I quilted, wonder what possessed me to buy one so long ago? But, the lines are so deep into it, I don't know if they are accurate anymore so I figured a new and larger one was necessary.

Sit it outside for a bit...the smell will go away.
I know others on the board have mentioned the smell and I think they too, put them outside. Some may have washed them?

Personally if it were me, I'd take it back. Maybe something got on it during shipping or something and you can exchange it for another one. I wouldnt want to risk the smell being IN it versus on it and have it come back.

If you put it outside and the sun heats it up...be sure that it is laying flat...the heat and sun will warp it.

wipe it down in vinegar(white) and wait for a couple of hours then wipe it is clear water let it dry completly that should work do fromt and back

yes, I would def watch it for too much sun...and maybe some baking soda on it and under it...but no alcohol.
Alcohol removes ink, and is drying,...besides, you don't want a smelly, drunk mat on your hands! :shock:

OK- going to try this- vinegar and water (thanks jerrie- I believe vinegar is a cure all for everything) and then put it on the covered front porch to dry and get the smell out.

Will let you know how it works.

THANKS!!!!

Just don't put it anyway near that beautiful car of yours (the avatar) - you wouldn't want to permeate the paint

car is safely tucked away in the garage. it came out yesterday, was pinging so spouse set the timing and then took it for a ride. I was at work. :(

Did get to see it go back into the garage. It is so nice and sounds sooo cool. Love the rumble of the pipes.

It's really pretty. Excuse my ignorance - what kind of car is it? how long have you had it?

It's a 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible.

Bought it last year in August. I sold my 2001 Trans Am because I wanted an old car. I also have a 1957 Nash metropolitan and spouse has a 1965 Corvette Stingray.

I'd spray the back with febreze and put it flat in a big plastic bag for a few hours, then just lay it flat to dry. I'm betting the smell is the smell of the stuff it's made of, and no longer than fabric lays on a cutting board that it would not transfer to it. I love your car also.. I have a 1972 VW Beetle that I'm re-doing and a 1964 Meyers Manx.

I'm interested to know if the vinegar and airing it helped. Were you able to to that today?

I hope you can get the smell out...some types of materials sure do stink...wish they could figure out how to use different components to avoid this issue!!!

Smelly mats have been discussed before. I have one too. It finally quit smelling after about 8 months.

It was so powerful it made me sick and gave me headaches. Nothing worked for me, it just had to disapate on it's own. Mine is an olfa.

I don't know if the mat in question if an Olfa, but here they admit to the stinky problem and have a suggestion as to how to deal with it:

http://www.olfa.com/CustomerserviceFAQ.aspx#m3

"How do I reduce the strong plastic smell from my new rotary mat?
Due to production and distribution, a new OLFA rotary mat can emit an odorous smell that some people are sensitive too. To overcome this smell, we suggest that the mat be wiped down with a solution of equal parts lukewarm water and white vinegar, then let it set for five minutes. Afterwards, rinse off the mat and towel dry. Repeat as needed."

It's a shame that this issue isn't remedied at their plant so we don't have to suffer the consequences. Hope this helps.

wow, that must be some smell!!!

I bought a folding cutting mat at BigLots. I thought I had gotten such a great deal. It smelled of skunk when I opened it. I let it air out for two weeks - it still smelled. It is back at BigLots and still on the shelf. If someone has a sure fire method to get the smell out, I would be thrilled to go back and buy it again. Good luck!

I bought the same mat at Wally world and it, too, smelled like crazy. I'm happy to report that after about 6 months the smell is went away.

Even if you manage to get the smell out of the mat, Email and complain about it. If enough people complain and suggest THEY take the smell out at the manufacturing end, MAYBE they'll do it! Use this url and then click on customer service at the top of the page and complain!

http://www.olfa.com/CustomerserviceFAQ.aspx#m3

I want a bigger mat, but now I'm afraid to buy one. What a terrible problem.