I just cut out Pellon 987 Fusible Fleece for a handbag, and now my cutting mat is a mess. Little bits of the fleece are imbedded in the mat and I don't know how to get them out. HELP...

first try using a clean kitchen scrubber made for teflon...it is slightly abrasive but not supposed to scratch..the abrasive texture will pick up some if not all the fuzzies as well as smooth the surface of the mat without damaging it.

Remember if your mat is a self healing mat it needs to be refreshed once a year by letting it absorb water for a couple of hours and then dry naturally. It keeps the mat like new.

I'm following this, too! Thanks, BellaBoo. I did not know that!! The mat will have a soak tonight!

I didn't know that! But, now I have to clear the board...it is 2yards long...

Really soak my olfa mat in water and let dry? I never heard of that. The things we learn here. :)

I have to try that water trick! How cool!

LOL.. sounds like alot of mats will be soaking tonight..
I've never heard of that either... thanks for the advice!

A lint roll. Works great. everything will stick to the roll, and Toss away.

Ditto here!! I'll also take the edge of my 6.5" square ruler and scrape the mat to get those little slivers of mat and fabric off that the wash rag didn't get.

I didn't know about the soaking either. Great idea, I've had my mat forever. To get the fuzzies out I have used a wad of batting, you know the slivers that aren't really worth anything. Works for me.

I clean my cutting mats with a rubber cement pickup or frisket pickup - it's a little square of crepe rubber sold in the fine arts section of your craft store or in the office supply store near the glues or drafting supplies.

It really pulls the fibers out of the crevices and cleans up the surface.

I'd like to do the soaking thing but don't have anything flat that is 24" x 36". What do others use please.

never knew that either

Could you put a wet bath towel onto of it for a couple of hours??
I've used my lint roller with success but can see that doesn't help with the resealing just cleans it.

I love this board, you learn something new everyday!! Thank you for the tips.

Seriously? Soak it in water? I have had cutting mats for years and never knew that. I LOVE THIS PLACE!!

Don't go soaking them yet. Someone needs to search this topic first. I think one of the companies, Olfa maybe, said to NOT put them in water.

Wet towell sounds like a great idea. Thanks

I did not know that. Thanks for the tip BellaBoo!! You have just saved us all a ton of money -- cutting mats aren't cheap!

These are the care instructions I've found on the olfa website:

OLFA ROTARY MAT CARE INSTRUCTIONS
• Use only Rotary Cutters and Blades. Knives with a fixed blade may damage this mat.
• Keep mat flat, never rolled.
• Do not expose to extreme condition. Keep out of direct sunlight. Both cold and heat
could cause the mat to crack or become brittle.
• Do not iron.
• Avoid cutting repeatedly in the same spot to avoid excessive wear. For double-sided
mats, rotate and flip mat periodically.
• To clean, use lukewarm water with a mild detergent. Avoid harsh chemicals.

Bath rub?

As I understand it, there's no need to soak it, just lay it in a bath of warm water with some mild detergent or liquid soap and scrub it gently with a soft brush. Rinse with fresh tepid water and dry flat on a towel NOT in sunlight or near a direct heat source. Mine are 24" x 36" as well and I just let them roll gently up the sides of the bath while I clean them then push them gently too and fro in the water. When they're not left there for any length of time, it does them no harm. I have two different brands, treat them both like this and they're like new. :-D

When bits of thread, batting, etc. get embedded in my cutting mat, I just rub over the threads with a large pencil eraser. It works great to get those little threads and bits of fluff out of the grooves made by the rotary cutter.

I take aball of foil and rub it over the mat and that removes all the fuzz

I didn't know you should soak your mat either. Do you put the whole pat a tub of water and just wet it down good and let it dry?

Have to try that. Thanks for the tip.

LOL. I've NEVER "reconditioned" my cutting mat. Poor things is many, many years old and still going strong, but I guess I am an "abusive mother" since it hasn't gotten it's bath. Do you just wipe it down with water and let it dry???

Thanks I never knew this !

How do you know if your mat is self healing one? Is there a particular brand?

Thank you so much for this info!

the gals at my guild recommend soaking it in the bathtub! it works!

Never knew the water trick! You would think that info would be on the product label when you buy a new one. Bought a later one in January but will try that on my previous one which I haven't thrown away yet. Thank goodness!

Those little sponges in the cosmetic section of WM work really well, too.

Thank you so much I did not know that!!

I am going to soak a t0wel and put it on the picnic table outside overnight so it lays flat. I suppose you could wet it down with a hose also. Never heard of soaking it before. --J

What great hints! Thanks all!

wow i learned something today.

I don't have to soak mine. I use one of those automotive microfiber towels. Get it washcloth wet and scrub. It's like magic! A whole lot faster than a soak too.

It works great, I did it with good results.