Do NOT’ put your hot tea or coffee cup on your self healing cutting mat. It likes room temperature. If you live in the dryer parts of the west or during the dry winter months, you might have to give your cutting mat a big drink! Water keeps it healthy just like it keeps you healthy.

Good water of course. Your cutting mat likes room temperature just like you. Keep in mind if you’re getting dried out from lack of humidity in the air, it might have the same effect on your cutting mat. Details of things you can do to keep your self healing cutting mat healthy can be found by watching the videos on the following pages.

Clean your mat by using clean water and little liquid dish washing soap to remove any oils that build up from you hands.

Fill your bathtub with room temperature water (not hot, not warm, and not cold) In the water add 1/4 cup of white vinegar and a squirt of dove dish soap for a good lather. Use a mushroom brush (soft bristle brush) and scrub the mat gently getting a good lather with the soap. Then rinse your self healing mat with cool water getting all residue off the mat. You can dry it with a cotton towel, or air dry. It doesn’t matter how you choose to dry it. But lay if flat after you’ve dried it.

(Do not dry it in direct sunlight or it could damage the mat)

The reason for this method is the materials that makes your mat self healing absorbs water and makes the mat supple again. Water and the pliable rubber like material bond together. Not only does this make your mat last longer, but it keeps your blades from dulling so quickly because you are cutting into a softer surface. Makes sense right?

Your self-healing cutting mat likes to be moist. It can dry out with constant use. To add water in needs to soak for at least 20 minutes. If you have an inflatable child swimming pool that might be one way to give the larger mats a place to lay flat while they soak. Just make sure you don’t leave it in sun while it soaks. Don’t forget to add a quarter cup of vinegar to a gallon of water, place the mat flat in the pool add water and soak for 20 minutes. Double check to make sure the pools plastic won’t be harmed by the vinegar and water solution, BEFORE you place the mat in the solution.