How long should you use a cutting mat?

Good question, I would like to know the answer too. As much as we pay for them they should last forever.

Remember, you paid for 2 sides, if it is getting too battered, turn it over, TA DA new mat!

Till you start tripping over the grooves. You can always take a very fine sandpaper to it and get a few extra miles. When one side is done, flip it over and double your usage!

When my rotary cutter starts hitting ruts that haven't "healed" themselves.

I cut a bunch of fleece into scarves and finished off both sides of one mat. The fleece gets stuck in the cracks and it can't "heal" even if you're pretty vigilant about rubbing the fuzz off frequently.

Hmmm....my mat only has cutting lines on ONE side :thumbup:

I meant:

:thumbdown: :thumbdown:

About this 'self-healing' -- I haven't seen too much of that on my mats. Am I missing something?

I pretty much ignore the lines on my cutting mat and pay more attention to the lines on my rulers.

I think most mats are "self-healing" but some do a better job than others. My gray mats are harder so they are harder to cut through but eventually the rotary cutter will wear a path in it and it doesn't "heal". The green mats have paths all over them but they're made out of some softer material that kind of mushes itself back together but batting & especially fleece & flannel will get stuck in the groove when cutting and it can't mush itself back together. If I stop & clean the mat off every so often, it lasts longer but fleece is so fine & fuzzy that it gets stuck in the grooves and I can't get it all out which causes a bump in the mat and the rotary cutter skips or swerves when you hit a bump. After you get a few bumps in your mat--you'll quickly be replacing it or turning it over until you can get a replacement.

I don't use the lines on my cutting mats, either unless it's to line up several strips to be cut at one time ala Eleanor Burns. I only use my rulers for measuring & I only use 1 brand of ruler because I found at the hard way what happens when you mix brands.

I found fleece to be awful on my mat and dulled the blade on my cutter really quickly.

That is OK, I paid for the lines on my ruler, so I will use those! I really do not use the lines on the mat, and sometimes find them distracting. I will use my mat really fast to check if an angle is close to 45 or 60, but that is about it for the mat lines. For detailed stuff, I use the ruler(s).

I had my first one for years. Most of the wear is on the left (as I am lefthanded) I gave it to my church group as they are all right handed.

Thanks everyone for the great tips. I totally ruined a mat cutting fleece. I couldn't get the fleece out of the grooves.
Side note: I really love this forum. I have learned so much. You all are great teachers, helpers and to me, The best quilt family ever.

When your mat gets fuzzies rub over it with a nylon dish scrubby..works great to get them off. I keep one on my cutting table.