Isn't there something that you all use to.....
 

clean up your cutting mats? I've been cutting a lot of squares for the cathedral window quilt I'm making and I'm starting to see lines in my mat where I've cut in the same spot. I think I've seen where you all had a solution for this but I can't remember what it is. I will start cutting in different spots but other than that, what can I do??

I use a ktchen sponge or even a damp cloth. You reminded me to turn my cutting mat.

I have the same problem and my mat is less than a year old and I bought a ghinger mat, self healing even! haha
I turn mine so I cut on the other end, to bad they don't print them on both sides so you could just flip them over!!
I'll be watching to see if there is "fix it" for this....

I just finished making a confetti quilt and that certainly left my mat a mess. I just wiped it with a damp sponge. There is a cutting mat cleaner you can buy, but my sponge did a fine job.

Do you need to clean it or are those cut lines from your rotery cutter? Run your fingernail over it, if you feel a ridge it is a cut in the mat. Repeated cutting on the same line will eventully cut the mat.

I bought the round small mat surface cleaner thing - didn't work at all. Am told it'll work if you start using it early enough - my mat was well past early-enuf.
I bought myself a new huge cutting mat for my table and I now buy Fiskars 7" square rotating mats at Joanns with a coupon - when they start giving me trouble - I toss them and buy another (with a coupon).
The only time I cut on the new big mat is when they're large pieces or strips - and then I use the surface cleaner over where I've cut.

I was told at a quilt show, you should soak your mat in the bathtub to rejuvenate them. The Olfa mats love water. Good reminder to myself, this is something I have been going to try.

I recently went to ca craft show, and bought a "big-mat", which I love, love, love!!!! Anyhow, this particular mat is cleans with a small square of plastic, like a ruler. and then soap and water.
Mats are a tricky thing, because if you use them too much, they don't "self-heal" and it is very hard to get marks out.

Someone told me to use Mr Clean Eraser sponges??

delma