Friday, September 14, 2012

Taking care of the Olfa mat


  I have several of these mats in all sizes.....and I learned a tip at guild from Suzanne.  Her tip was how to clean your mat---get rid of the threads and fibers that get embedded in it.   I experimented with my small mat first and was surprised that it seemed to do a better job today.
  I did a little extra research on line and discovered that our mats actually like moisture!  The self healing mat will absorb some of the water, making the it supple again.  That means the mat should last longer and be less likely to dull your rotary blades.
   Method:
  Fill the bath tub with a few inches of water--room temperature water,  not hot.   Place mat face down in the water and let it soak for a 5 to 10  minutes.  Remove and dry flat.
  Optional information for cleaning:
  Add  1/4 cup of vinegar---is there anything you can't do with vinegar?---and add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the water.  
  You can use a soft sponge to  gently clean the surface of the mat.  Rinse well with cool water.  Place on a towel on a flat surface out of the sunlight  to dry.
   So simple, and makes so much sense..... happy stitching.

7 comments:

Cheree @ The Morning Latte said...

This is really really good info! I did NOT know that about the water! I keep a lint-roller handy in my sewing room for quick-cleaning lots of things, including my mat and my ironing board (just like vinegar, I've found the lint-roller has a multitude of purposes!). Thanks for this great tip!

Janet O. said...

Good stuff to know, Debbie. Thanks!

Lynne said...

Wow, the things we learn! Thanks for sharing.

Barb said...

That is just the kind of info I am looking for, thanks so much!!

Dolores said...

Thank you. I noticed a small build-up of fluff embedded in my mat and tried to get rid of it. Not all of it is gone. I will be using your instructions once I get home since I'm out of the province at the moment.

Queenie Believe said...

Awesome cutting mat tip!!! I'm definitly going to give it a try this weekend.
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie

Dana Gaffney said...

Thanks Debbie, that's good info, my mats are going to have a bath today. I hope they like it better than the dogs do.

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