To be honest I think it depends on the type of plastic the mat is made out of weather soaking them does any good or not. I personally don't believe it really does anything. The bebas brand ( or some know them as Salem brand ) are still made the same way. Good mat. I know people have had them for 10 plus years. And you can roll them up and they're guaranteed not to warp you can iron them as long as you some type of padding and you can pin in them.