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.