Fizzle

I did do a search looking for this but could not find answers.

I have a small mat and i have picked it up to discover dampness underneath.
My sis and I just got bigger mats and i wonder what you all do regarding the care?
If it is used on your Martelli table will it warp it?
I have those 6” plastic folding tables. Would it warp that?

I have learned that after use you should move it, stand it up maybe, so that it can breath and air dry?
So attaching it to a board or wood TV tray would probably not be a good idea?

If anyone has any helpful info it would be appreciated.

Thank you all.

QuiltE

Dampness underneath doesn't sound good and what it could mean over time.

Anything I say here has no experiential validation, as I have never used them.
My thoughts went immediately to mould/mildew and buggyboos!
Nasty Nasty stuff it could mean.

As for in-between uses, I would wonder if standing it on end, could warp the fibres and surface, and that you might inadvertently not have a smooth surface for ironing on. Rather a rippled mess. My thought would be to set it on a mesh cookie cooling rack to let it cool and dry.

But like I said ... my thoughts may be so off here.
So listen to those who have experience.

But you have given me reasons to think a bit more about this as to whether it is something I would get in the future. Or not!

mkc

Wool is porous, so if you are using steam or spritzing the fabric with water or starch it will travel through a wool mat. I have some wool mats that are trivets and they hold moisture for days if dripped on. I do leave them on a clothing drying rack to dry out.

If you use steam or water mist or starch I would not leave a wool mat on top of a painted, wood, or other surface or material that could be damaged by moisture.

I would find some way for there to be good air circulation around all sides of a wool mat when not in use.

Kitsie

I use a plain old folded cloth to "mist" (not spray) my fabric pieces with my home-made best press next to my mat. Then put the piece on the mat and press. Never had dampness on the mat.

Onebyone

All the wool mats I have bought have instructions to use a heat/water proof protection underneath it. The mats let heat and steam go straight through. It will damage any surface that can't take the heat and dampness. I use a teflon oven liner under mine.

misseva

I use mine on top of my DIY ironing table made out of a TV tray that sits beside my sewing machine or sometimes I place it on my DIY ironing board made of plywood.

quiltingshorttimer

the moisture if from steam iron use. And yes you need to be using a heat proof surface underneath. The wool holds heat very well, but is not heatproof or moisture proof. I have a full wool cover on my ironing board. I no longer use steam except on yardage, so avoid shrinkage and distortion.

mindless

Yes
I use an oven liner too and a towel under mine. Then air dry when finished with it for the day.

mojo11

What a great idea QuiltE. I would never have thought about a cookie rack. That would let air circulate under the mat. Thanks for the idea.

GingerK

Considering that the surface frame of an ironing board is perforated, it makes sense to have that type of surface under the wool mat too. QuiltE, I have also been contemplating the usefulness/expense of a wool pressing mat. I think I will continue to contemplate instead of buying.