Go to the website of your mat's manufacturer such as Olfa, etc to get the directions for your mat. The scrubbing of the mat removes lint caught in the cut lines as well as dirt and oil from your hands. However, soaking a mat in water does not take the warp out. I laid mine outside on the patio, placed a piece of clear plexiglass on top and left it for a day. It worked very well. I live in Phoenix so the heat on the patio helped.
Great suggestion of going to the manufacturer's website for specific instructions. You're right--soaking does not remove a warp but a warm sun (not hot) and weight will. I also suggested books to weigh it down. The soaking simply restores some moisture and cleans your mat. =)
I found an old Olfa mat standing between 2 cabinets when i rearranged my craft room. I pulled up your you tube and as i'm watching my mat is soaking in the tub..... thx for the tip...
I just came home from a quilt show & I had no idea I should of been moisturizing my mat. Mine is 6yrs old, so I'll try it & if it doesn't work well or beyond help, I'll ask Santa for a new one for Xmas! Thanks Bonnie! :)
Thankyou for the video. I have a very large mat which I've glued to a benchtop. It goes from edge to edge. It a metre in height & I can access the mat from all sides, so it is a very convenient setup. How can I clean & moisturise this mat if I can't remove it from the benchtop? I am worried that if I wet it down too much, it might make the wood that it is glued to, swell.
First if you've been cutting a lot in the same place or with fuzzy fibers, use an artists eraser to lift the fuzzies out of tiny crevices. (Note: Try not to cut in the same place on your mat all the time, move it around a bit.) You might try using a sponge that's dipped in a bucket of water and a few drops of mild detergent and be careful to watch that water doesn't go all the way to the edge and get your bench wet. Since doing this video 2 years ago, I've learned that dipping he mat in the tub is convenient but not completely necessary.
Thank you for the video. It has nudged me to ask a question about one of m mats. It was packed and moved from overseas back to my home in NC. When unpacked, it had a 'bubble' or a 'raised hump' in the middle of it. Is there a way to get that bubble disappear and have my smooth mat back? Thanks
Approximately 14:40 into the video above discusses possible remedies for removing a warp. Lay it flat out in the warm sun, weight it down with books, etc., let it sit. Hopefully that will relax it to get its shape back.
Thank you for the kind words! I would think when it starts to look like it needs it would be sufficient. But I think a couple times a year would work well.
From a guy's perspective. First let me say I know nothing about sewing I bought a 99.00 Brothers just to fix my work shorts instead of throwing them out and buying new ones. During our recent pandemic I had lots of extra time and wanted to help and taught myself how to sew the masks everyone needed. I started with a 12 X 18 matt and then bought the 18X 24 matt which is the size of my cutting table I use. The table is glass so I have a piece of Plexiglass between the glass and the matt. With all that said my question would be How Often DO I Need to Do This? I have two points for anyone out there with my living condition. I live in Florida and since we use air conditioning 7 to 8 months out of the year and AC takes moisture (humidity) out of the room would that mean I would need to do it more often. Second if you live in an apartment or older place your tub won't be big enough cause the sides curl ip. So what I did was used the plexiglass from my cutting table and put that in the tub and the matt on the plexiglass so it wasn't boeing at the sides. Uses a lot more water but at least it's flat. Third the dish soap or you can use body soap or hand soap but just DON"T USE DAWN or any detergent that is close since they take the oil out of products. So for greasy pots and pans and baby ducks covered from an oil spill use all the dawn you can. Thanks for listening.
Good thoughts. I was trying to return moisture and not oil into the mat. You don't need to do this very often at all. I had the mat above for a few years before diving in and soaking it. Let the grunge on your mat be your guide. Some mats might not need it at all depending upon the maker. They have improved and continue to improve over time. =)
Katherine Hollada just rinse in room temperature water. If fibers are stuck in the mat use an artist’s eraser to remove stuck fibers by rubbing with eraser to loosen fibers and brush off. 😁
Marsha W why would you come on here and promote another website???? Extremely rude. !!!!! 😡😡😡. and what a gracious response by Bonnie! Please don’t do this to someone else, my word, what an imbecile! 😡😡😡
I have a huge mat ( 2x1.5m)so will have to go look for a kiddie pool to fit it into. But it is just a couple months old, so I am sure it does not need any treatment right away
Then I'd follow what your Fiskars mat says to do for sure! However, if the mat is already warped what have you got to lose? I'd put it out in the warm sun--maybe in the shade with books on top. You definitely don't want it out in the scorching sun but a nice warm day should be fine. =)
I don't see why not as long as what it's on can be soaked and dried off. Otherwise you might just want to use a spray bottle and spritz it and let it soak.
Actually I discussed a couple things you might try to get warps out around 14:40 into the video above. Lay flat in warm sun, put books and/or weights on it to weigh it down but make sure it's nice and flat. Hope that helps. =)
Maybe you could cover the drain in your shower and get an inch or two of water in there. You don't need a ton of water, just enough to cover the mat while it's laying flat.
Find a level spot in your yard. Use 2x4 lumber (or something similar) to form a rectangle larger than your cutting mat. Cover the rectangle with a larger piece of plastic, such as a mid-weight painter's drop cloth. Then, fill the rectangle with water. The 2x4's under the plastic will lift it to form a shallow pool. Sun will warm the water in the 3 warmer seasons. When finished, take apart and store for the next time.
My mat started in Pennsylvania, I am now in Utah. I have not noticed that I need to bathe it any more in my dry environment than I needed to before. I bathe it when the fibers start to stick in the groves.
Actually that makes perfect sense since the moisture of our mats really depends upon the climate indoors and not outside--unless, of course, you take it outside a lot. =)
The volume seems to be working. Did you double check to make sure your volume was turned on? Make sure there's no line through the volume control button. =)
I cringed when she said to measure the water- just give it a bath. The vinegar is not necessary. Warm water is not enough to warp your mat. It has to be really hot to warp it- if it dries flat, it will be flat.
Thank you for the input! Some folks like to know an exact recipe of what ingredients works best--so that's why I suggested measuring. Of course, after you've done it a time or too you won't be needing to measure as you'll know what works. So you're right, it doesn't have to be a perfect measurement. While you could leave vinegar out of the recipe, I still recommend using it. Because vinegar is so acidic, it can counteract some icky buildups. It can dissolve away soap scum, spray adhesives if you happen to spray over your mat from time-to-time (like I do), or stains that seem to show up over time and use. =)
I was trying to cover both "how to care for and moisturize" your cutting mat of which I covered the care for part first. If you don't want to follow along a portion of the video, simply use the fast forward button to slide quickly past those portions that you don't need. Easy peasy. Hope that helps. =)
I just ran into your videos and now have read them all. Thank you for all your tips and I’m starting to work fabrics now. Yahoo!
Joyce Sandifer have fun with your fabrics! You will love having them organized. 😁
Go to the website of your mat's manufacturer such as Olfa, etc to get the directions for your mat. The scrubbing of the mat removes lint caught in the cut lines as well as dirt and oil from your hands. However, soaking a mat in water does not take the warp out. I laid mine outside on the patio, placed a piece of clear plexiglass on top and left it for a day. It worked very well. I live in Phoenix so the heat on the patio helped.
Great suggestion of going to the manufacturer's website for specific instructions. You're right--soaking does not remove a warp but a warm sun (not hot) and weight will. I also suggested books to weigh it down. The soaking simply restores some moisture and cleans your mat. =)
I JUST LOVE YOUR SHOWS
I found an old Olfa mat standing between 2 cabinets when i rearranged my craft room. I pulled up your you tube and as i'm watching my mat is soaking in the tub..... thx for the tip...
I need to rearrange my sewing room too. Who knows what I'll find. LOL Hope your old mat gets new life in it. =)
I just came home from a quilt show & I had no idea I should of been moisturizing my mat. Mine is 6yrs old, so I'll try it & if it doesn't work well or beyond help, I'll ask Santa for a new one for Xmas! Thanks Bonnie! :)
You're more than welcome. =)
Thankyou for the video. I have a very large mat which I've glued to a benchtop. It goes from edge to edge. It a metre in height & I can access the mat from all sides, so it is a very convenient setup. How can I clean & moisturise this mat if I can't remove it from the benchtop? I am worried that if I wet it down too much, it might make the wood that it is glued to, swell.
First if you've been cutting a lot in the same place or with fuzzy fibers, use an artists eraser to lift the fuzzies out of tiny crevices. (Note: Try not to cut in the same place on your mat all the time, move it around a bit.) You might try using a sponge that's dipped in a bucket of water and a few drops of mild detergent and be careful to watch that water doesn't go all the way to the edge and get your bench wet. Since doing this video 2 years ago, I've learned that dipping he mat in the tub is convenient but not completely necessary.
You’re wonderful and gorgeous 😘 thank you for this helpful video
It’s my first time on your channel and I’m gone to hit all the positif bottons
👍🏻
Thank you! I'll be trying this one day soon.
You're most welcome!
Woops to me also!! I try to move around when cutting but don't always do so!! lol
Thank you for the video. It has nudged me to ask a question about one of m mats. It was packed and moved from overseas back to my home in NC. When unpacked, it had a 'bubble' or a 'raised hump' in the middle of it. Is there a way to get that bubble disappear and have my smooth mat back? Thanks
Approximately 14:40 into the video above discusses possible remedies for removing a warp. Lay it flat out in the warm sun, weight it down with books, etc., let it sit. Hopefully that will relax it to get its shape back.
Hi Bonnie. Just watched this great tip and wondered how often do I need to do this to my cutting mat?
Thank you for the kind words! I would think when it starts to look like it needs it would be sufficient. But I think a couple times a year would work well.
Amazing hints n tips Bonnie (smile)
You're most welcome!
From a guy's perspective. First let me say I know nothing about sewing I bought a 99.00 Brothers just to fix my work shorts instead of throwing them out and buying new ones. During our recent pandemic I had lots of extra time and wanted to help and taught myself how to sew the masks everyone needed. I started with a 12 X 18 matt and then bought the 18X 24 matt which is the size of my cutting table I use. The table is glass so I have a piece of Plexiglass between the glass and the matt. With all that said my question would be How Often DO I Need to Do This? I have two points for anyone out there with my living condition. I live in Florida and since we use air conditioning 7 to 8 months out of the year and AC takes moisture (humidity) out of the room would that mean I would need to do it more often. Second if you live in an apartment or older place your tub won't be big enough cause the sides curl ip. So what I did was used the plexiglass from my cutting table and put that in the tub and the matt on the plexiglass so it wasn't boeing at the sides. Uses a lot more water but at least it's flat. Third the dish soap or you can use body soap or hand soap but just DON"T USE DAWN or any detergent that is close since they take the oil out of products. So for greasy pots and pans and baby ducks covered from an oil spill use all the dawn you can. Thanks for listening.
Good thoughts. I was trying to return moisture and not oil into the mat. You don't need to do this very often at all. I had the mat above for a few years before diving in and soaking it. Let the grunge on your mat be your guide. Some mats might not need it at all depending upon the maker. They have improved and continue to improve over time. =)
I have an Olfa Rotary Mat -- does not say self-healing. Purchased in 1986!!! Should I clean this the same way???
Katherine Hollada just rinse in room temperature water. If fibers are stuck in the mat use an artist’s eraser to remove stuck fibers by rubbing with eraser to loosen fibers and brush off. 😁
How to fix a warped mat (UA-cam) by Hedi Salm.... Indoors! Thank you Bonnie your video's are great :-)
You'e most welcome!
Marsha W why would you come on here and promote another website???? Extremely rude. !!!!! 😡😡😡. and what a gracious response by Bonnie! Please don’t do this to someone else, my word, what an imbecile! 😡😡😡
I have a huge mat ( 2x1.5m)so will have to go look for a kiddie pool to fit it into. But it is just a couple months old, so I am sure it does not need any treatment right away
I'm sure you'll be fine for awhile. =)
Just heard your solution to warping---thank you!!!
Let's hope it does the trick for you. Doesn't always work but here's hoping! Let me know how it does for you. =)
My fiskars mat instructions say not to put it in direct sunlight.
Then I'd follow what your Fiskars mat says to do for sure! However, if the mat is already warped what have you got to lose? I'd put it out in the warm sun--maybe in the shade with books on top. You definitely don't want it out in the scorching sun but a nice warm day should be fine. =)
I have a cutting mat that turns around. It is on a plastic board. Would I treat it the same way? Shirley in Monroe, GA
I don't see why not as long as what it's on can be soaked and dried off. Otherwise you might just want to use a spray bottle and spritz it and let it soak.
Hi Bonnie !
Hi!
OMG ~ TY
Actually, it warped....good word.....can you have with a repair to get that warp out?
Actually I discussed a couple things you might try to get warps out around 14:40 into the video above. Lay flat in warm sun, put books and/or weights on it to weigh it down but make sure it's nice and flat. Hope that helps. =)
Donna Mae Wilson I
What do you if you don’t have a bath or kiddies pool
Maybe you could cover the drain in your shower and get an inch or two of water in there. You don't need a ton of water, just enough to cover the mat while it's laying flat.
Find a level spot in your yard. Use 2x4 lumber (or something similar) to form a rectangle larger than your cutting mat. Cover the rectangle with a larger piece of plastic, such as a mid-weight painter's drop cloth. Then, fill the rectangle with water. The 2x4's under the plastic will lift it to form a shallow pool. Sun will warm the water in the 3 warmer seasons.
When finished, take apart and store for the next time.
Subscribed too
What type of moisturiser ?
I give you the percentage mix in the video of dishwashing soap, water and vinegar. That's the moisturizer I'm referring to. =)
I wonder if you live in the Southwest (Arizona)...one would need to do this more often, you know 'cause we have a DRY heat here! Hahahaha!!!
It's a possibility! =)
My mat started in Pennsylvania, I am now in Utah. I have not noticed that I need to bathe it any more in my dry environment than I needed to before. I bathe it when the fibers start to stick in the groves.
Actually that makes perfect sense since the moisture of our mats really depends upon the climate indoors and not outside--unless, of course, you take it outside a lot. =)
Can you read my message
I see your message here. It's the only message I see. =)
Please fix the volume
The volume seems to be working. Did you double check to make sure your volume was turned on? Make sure there's no line through the volume control button. =)
I had the same problem with the volume & yes, mine was up all the way. I'm cutting ALOT of jeans & will be trying this when I'm done cutting. Thanks!!
Kathie Heath I had no issues with the volume...
I cringed when she said to measure the water- just give it a bath. The vinegar is not necessary. Warm water is not enough to warp your mat. It has to be really hot to warp it- if it dries flat, it will be flat.
Thank you for the input! Some folks like to know an exact recipe of what ingredients works best--so that's why I suggested measuring. Of course, after you've done it a time or too you won't be needing to measure as you'll know what works. So you're right, it doesn't have to be a perfect measurement. While you could leave vinegar out of the recipe, I still recommend using it. Because vinegar is so acidic, it can counteract some icky buildups. It can dissolve away soap scum, spray adhesives if you happen to spray over your mat from time-to-time (like I do), or stains that seem to show up over time and use. =)
5 minutes in, and not ONE tip on restoring my mat. You're KILLING me here, lady, with the non-talk chit chat....
I was trying to cover both "how to care for and moisturize" your cutting mat of which I covered the care for part first. If you don't want to follow along a portion of the video, simply use the fast forward button to slide quickly past those portions that you don't need. Easy peasy. Hope that helps. =)
This video could’ve been 5 minutes long!
I agree with if you don’t want to listen to the chit chat, fast forward...soooo simple 😉😉😉