Okay, I had two older mats...one had been used a LOT, it was my biggest mat! I soaked them both and they didn't seem much improved. The smaller one I took some super fine sandpaper and went over it several times. I finally got it to usable condition. The big one was beyond repair. Of coarse the back side was still good, so I will keep it. I had started marking lines on it last week with a sharpie. When my DH saw what I was doing, he insisted I just buy a new one....I did and I love it!! :D