I usually soak mine once a year - when my niece gets out the swimming pool for her kids she calls me and lets me come over with all my mats and soak them in the first few inches with vinegar. Then we use that water to scrub out the pool, empty it, and refill it for the kids. I get my mats soaked, she gets the pool cleaned, little water is "wasted", and everyone is happy!

What a good idea!

It would have to warm up a lot here---haven't seen grass since early December---Really tired of snow!!!

I put mine on the driveway in direct Texas sunshine--103 degrees worth--with glass over it to enhance the heat and at the end of a 12 hour exposure it was still warped. Maybe the driveway was warped. It was worth a try, though. I sold it at a quilt guild garage sale for $2 and the buyer loves it! C'est la vie! froggyintexas

I have been quilting since 1992, and I have NEVER heard of this. The label on my mat did not say anything about soaking. This is new information for me.

Huh! Gonna try it. I have a Fiskars pink mat (Donna Dewberry) that has gotten very dingy. I use a lot of batiks and black fabrics and the dyes tend to transfer somewhat onto the mat (I don't prewash). Will try the soaking and gentle scrubbing with Ivory to see if I can get it clean.

Thanks for posting!

Anita

I found a warped mat in a box I had packed for Salvation Army, last year. I ran hot water over it for a few minutes and stuck it under a heavy box yesterday. I forgot all about it until I saw this thread. Guess I'd better go check on it.

Update: Mat is a lot better, just slightly bowed. Guess I'll keep it. :o

As a side note for those of you who have a warped mat. If you have an extra bed slide the mat between the box springs and mattress for a few days.

To the person that posted the link for Punch with Judy thank you. I see lots of very interesting things that I am going to want to look at closer there.

Do not soak an attached ironing board/cutting board. Yes the glue will release the ironing side. Mine separated from the heat and I had to glue it back together. If you want to clean the cutting side get a Scrungy and rub it over the marks and then wipe down with a damp cloth.

FYI my mats are too big to soak (or my tub is too small) but I use white vinegar for everything. So I spray mine periodically after using a mat smoothing stone (got at my LQS) and wipe down then air dry. Works for me. I also use white vinegar as a disenfectant in my laundry, to clean my kitchen counters and sink, etc etc. cheaper than Odoban but still nontoxic. Oh also soaked my dog's paw when he caught his dew claw and hurt it. Kept it clean and of course he's going to lick at it, but wouldn't hurt him. Grandma was right, vinegar has a million uses!

I didn't really notice a difference with the mat. Think I did it right...but who knows.

Straightening a warped mat
 

I just did this on the roof of my car in 90+ degree day in Philadelphia. Worked like a charm!

I've never soaked my mat, but then it's only 16 years old and probably doesn't need it yet. It works, feels, and looks fine just the way it is so I see no point at all in messing with it. :)

It will work on an OLFA MAT, I put mine in the shower and let it soak on the bottom, the mat will stop the water from draining out.

I'm glad this works for some people. I laid my warped mat on the driveway in the August Texas sun. Nothing changed. Then I laid a piece of glass over the mat and left it out on the driveway for about six hours. Nothing happened. It was worth a try, of course, but I finally gave the mat away and don't know what happened to it after that. froggyintexas