How To Clean Cricut Mat [Learn Easy Ways]
Over time your Cricut mat may get dirty and lose its stickiness, which is very normal and manageable. We will have to replace the accessories or fix them at some point. So, if you wonder how to clean Cricut mat and restick it, read our blog till the end.
Cricut mats are included in the Cricut accessories that hold materials while cutting the material through Cricut machine. Cricut offers four types of Cricut cutting mats with different levels of adhesiveness. Usually, the Cricut mat will last for 40-50 uses before it starts to lose its stickiness. Cricut mats don't last long and will not work effectively after a certain time. Hence, cleaning them is the best way to expand their life span.
When Should You Clean Your Cricut Mat?
If you use the Cricut mat daily, you should clean it more often. Typically, you should clean mats after 2-4 cuts depending on the type of material you are using. The best time to clean a mat is when you notice it's not sticking like before. You will need to clean the mats when you cut wood materials with a knife blade. Also, you will have to clean the Cricut mats frequently if you use materials that leave a lot of debris behind, such as denim, glitter vinyl, and leather.
How To Clean Cricut Mat?
These are some best ways to extend the life span of Cricut cutting mats and to keep them clean.
Use Lint Roller Or Scraper
If you use your Cricut mat daily, you should regularly clean it with a lint roller or scraper. If you don't have any of these, you can also use an old credit card or plastic card to remove the machine's unwanted scraps. To use them, rub the edge of the cards on the surface of the mat to remove the scrap.
Don't Forget To Replace Plastic Protector Sheet
Cricut mats have a clear protective sheet. You can protect the mat by covering it with the protective sheets in your project. If the plastic sheet gets dirty, you can remove it with a baby wipe.
Always Use The Right Type Of Mat
To protect your Cricut mats, use the right type of mat for the right type of material. For instance, use LightGrip mats for delicate papers, FabricGrip, and StrongGrip mats for heavy materials.
What Are The Different Cleaning Methods For Different Mats?
It is important to choose the right type of cleaning method for your Cricut mat.
Light-Duty Cleaning Methods
Use light-duty cleaning tools for cleaning your Cricut mat. Those tools are:
Scraper tool
You can use the Cricut scraper tool to remove large pieces of residue or debris. To use this, pull the edge of the scraper tool over the surface of your cutting mat. The scraper tool will remove the small particles of the materials, etc.
Lint roller
It is used to remove the residue of material that gets stuck to the mat. To use this, simply roll the surface of the mat to take off the small paper and glitter particles.
Baby wipes
Baby wipes gently wipe the surface of your mat without affecting its stickiness. To use the baby wipes, wipe your mat in a circular motion to clean the surface. Remember not to scratch the surface; let the mat dry before using it.
Medium-Duty Cleaning Methods
In this method, you can clean the mat with dish soap and warm water. Use mild dish soap to protect your mat. Before washing, use a scrapper tool to pick up the unwanted materials from the mat. Then, put the mat on a surface and use the soft dish brush to scrub the surface of the mat and then rinse with warm water. Let the mat dry completely.
Hard-Duty Cleaning Method
When your mat is very dirty and greasy, you will need a strong agent to clean it. There are many popular cleaning sprays to clean the Cricut mats in the market. You can also purchase a good spray to clean your mat.
How To Make Cricut Mat Restick?
The first thing is to keep your mat to maintain its stickiness. But over time, it's difficult to do so as the mat gets older and may require strong methods. So you can restick it by the following method.
First, clean your Cricut mat thoroughly and remove all the dirt, debris, and residue materials using the scraper tool. Then clean it with baby wipes or mild soap and warm water.
Once the mat is completely dry and clean, remove the edges of the tape to apply the new adhesive. You can use masking tape or blue painter's tape to protect the edges.
Now, apply the new adhesive to your Cricut mat. There are many brands of adhesives, such as Spray n Bond Basting Adhesive, Tacky Glue, Aleene's Tack, Loctite, and Krylon brand repositionable adhesive, etc.
You should follow the instructions at the back of the can of adhesive.
Then, let it dry for 10-15 minutes.
Should I Buy A New Cricut Mat?
You may have to buy a fresh Cricut mat at some point, as your older mat may not serve you enough. When to know that you need a new mat? Well, it will always be a good option to use your mat as much as possible. To keep them in good condition, you will have to clean them thoroughly after every cut or depending on the type of material you use. Usually, a Cricut mat will give you around 50 cuts, and the rest depends on your cutting duty and how often you use your Cricut mat. When you find that you have to clean it often, the stickiness is not retained. Also, if the mat is not able to hold your material, then It's a good time to get a new Cricut mat.
Conclusion
I hope you liked my post on how to clean Cricut mat. Many users have this doubt about cleaning the mats as they don't know the right way to clean them, and they end up damaging them. But with my explained ways, you can extend the life of your Cricut mat and restore the stickiness in fewer efforts. Also, some effective tools help you clean the mat, such as a scraper tool, lint roller, baby wipes, and many more. You can buy a fresh Cricut mat when you don't find it effective enough to hold your material even after cleaning.
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