How To Clean A Cricut Mat? [a Comprehensive Guide]

By Author: karenminton
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Sometimes, after several uses in the Cricut machine, Cricut mats lose their stickiness, but before you throw the mat out and buy a new Cricut mat, it’s a good idea to clean the Cricut mat and make it sticky again. There are a few methods! And most of the cleaning methods are actually easy and simple, with no need for special products. Cleaning the Cricut mat whenever it needs to is a good idea and can extend its life of the Cricut mat.

In this blog, we will discuss how to clean a Cricut mat with simple tips and tricks.

WHAT IS A CRICUT MAT?
The Cricut Mat is a specific mat made for Cricut cutting machines. The Cricut Mat is the surface on which you will cut your craft project with the Cricut machine. Place the material you want to cut on the Cricut Mat and put the mat into the Cricut machine.

WHY DOES A CRICUT MAT GET SO DIRTY?
The most common reasons that come to mind for a dirty Cricut cutting mat are:

Using a Cricut mat without the mat cover. The mat can absorb dirt from the equipment on or off the surface of the dirt. If left untreated, it can get dirty very quickly.
Rub ...
... your hands on the Cricut mat when you’re done with it. It will rub off on the mat and wear it down very quickly.
Touching or removing the mat with your other hand. While using something on the top of the Cricut mat is a good idea to wipe away some of your dirt, it can also damage the mat and mess up your craft project.
Using too much pressure on the mat when cutting. It will cause wear on the fibers of the mat, which can make it dirty very quickly.
HOW OFTEN AND WHEN TO CLEAN A CRICUT MAT?
On average, a Cricut mat lasts for 40-50 cuts. They don’t last forever, but you can extend the mat’s lifespan by cleaning it from time to time. If the mat is not holding objects well anymore, it’s time to clean it. Or if you just cut something that left behind a lot of debris, like glitter cardstock, maybe it’s time to clean it up.

All methods will help extend the life of the Cricut mat, but they will ultimately wear out and need to be replaced with a new mat.

HOW TO CLEAN A CRICUT MAT?
To stay on top of dirt and residue on the Cricut mat, you can do a quick cleaning after each use. Three easy methods only take a few minutes and will help the Cricut mat stay at the right level of stickiness.

METHOD 1: USE A SCRAPER TOOL
Cricut is well aware that the users who buy their products like doing projects at home and cleaning, repairing, and maintaining their homes.

That’s why they also have a Cricut Scraper Tool, and you can use this to clean large areas and apply the material easily to large surfaces, making it great for working with vinyl and cleaning mats and other surfaces.

To use the Scraper tool, drag the edge of the scraper tool across the mat’s surface, and it will remove all but the smallest bits of dust, debris, or whatever else is dirtying the mat.

METHOD 2: USE A LINT ROLLER

A great method to clean a Cricut mat is running a lint roller over its surface. The lint roller gathers leftovers from the cutting procedure, whether bits of silver, paper, or glitter stuck to the mat.

METHOD 3: WITH BABY WIPES
Another great method to clean a Cricut mat is convenient, as most households have baby wipes. But before you use the baby wipes, you’ll want to make sure there are no paper pieces on the mat. Therefore, you’ll need either a sticky lint roller or a scraper tool to remove paper debris.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR KEEPING A CRICUT MAT CLEAN
Inevitably, a mat will eventually get dirty and need to be replaced, but we want to get as much use out of the mat as we can. Keep in mind these tips and tricks to avoid the need to clean the mats frequently:

Always store Cricut mats with their plastic covers on.
Sometimes or after cutting a messy item like glitter vinyl, run a lint roller over the mat to clear or remove debris.
Use the right mat for your right project. Choose a low tack mat or a high tack mat, depending on the material’s needs you are cutting.
Keep rotating the mat from time to time. Most usage is seen in the top left corner. Keep in mind to move the thing on the mat in the print preview screen or put the mat upside down to spread the usage a bit further.
CONCLUSION
We hope this blog has been helpful. To get the best results from your craft projects, you must take care of your crafting tools. Cricut mats are expensive and while Cricut suggests that when you lose a mat, you replace it, why throw it away when you can still use it?

Source :- https://cricutsetupformac.com/how-to-clean-a-cricut-mat/

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