How to Clean a Cricut Mat
Cricut mats are made to be durable and handle cutting materials, but even the most sturdy products can wear down with time.
You’ll know your mat needs a good scrubbing when it starts collecting dust, dirt, and fuzz from fabric. Luckily, cleaning a Cricut mat is easy!
How Often Should I Clean My Cricut Mat?
How often you clean your mat depends on how much you use it and the type of material used. Cricut mats can normally last up to 40-50 uses before it starts to wear out.
If you are constantly cutting fabric or paper, then cleanup duty will be more frequent than if your only project is a greeting card now and again. You may want to do a deep scrub on your mat every 5-10 projects depending on the size of the projects to keep it clean.
I suggest cleaning the mat whenever you notice that the materials don’t stick as well as they used to.
How to Clean My Cricut Cat
When you’re ready to give your mat a good scrubbing, here’s what you need:
- Clean paper towel.
- A few drops of dish soap.
- Cloth, soft brush or sponge.
Step 1: Place your Cricut mat on a flat surface and keep it in place. Use a clean paper towel to wipe off any accrued dust or fuzz from your mat. If the dust or fuzz needs scrubbing, use your hands.
Step 2: Use your wet paper towel to wet the Cricut mat. The goal of this step is too wet the mat enough so it makes the soap easier to scrub. Add a few drops of dish soap onto your cleaning towel and work it into a lather over your mat. Scrub all areas thoroughly, including around the edges.
Step 3: When you’re done scrubbing, rinse the mat with clean water or wipe them dry with a dry paper towel. Make sure you dry off the mat completely or it may collect excess moisture and mold.
Step 4: Test your mat to see if any residue is left on the cutting surface. If your mat still feels sticky, apply some additional soap and scrub again. Don’t give up! If you wash your Cricut mat regularly, it will last a long time.
That’s all there is to it!
It’s that easy! Your Cricut will thank you for putting in the extra effort (especially if it has been used continuously without any washing).
How to Keep Your Cricut Mat Clean
There are a few steps you can take to extend the lifespan of your mat and keep it working at peak condition.
- If you’re working on multiple projects, be sure to put each new project onto a new page on the mat. If you do this, then you won’t have to clean the same surface over again for each project. Just be sure not to cross-contaminate your projects!
- Try not to leave fabric or paper scraps on top of your Cricut mat for long periods of time. These pieces will invariably collect dust and sometimes other debris which can scratch off onto your work as you cut.
- Clean mats regularly with a lint roller or scraper. You can use this method to quickly remove scraps from your cutting mat.
- Replace the plastic protector’s sheet. Cricut mats come with a clear protective sheet. You can keep your mat cleaner by covering the mat with the protective sheet in between projects.
- Use the right mat for the right material. Use the Light Grip mat for delicate papers, the Fabric Grip mat for fabric, and the Strong Grip mat for heavy-duty materials.
Materials I find to be effective at keeping Cricut mats clean:
Get the scoop on more articles like this one:
- How to Clean a Cricut Mat With Baby Wipes
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- What is a Cricut Machine?
