Cleaning your cutting mat: You love your hobby – but do you hate your lint-covered cutting mat? I can help you with that. I’ll show you how to clean and care for your cutting mat – and I’ll share my ultimate secret tip!
Honestly. My cutting mats really go through a lot. The constant toll taken by the rotary cutter. Thermolam. And recently, even my spare ironing pad and felt in every color of the rainbow. Plus, of course, fabric dyes, spray adhesive, needle pricks – and spilled coffee cups...
I regularly resolve to be a bit more careful.
But it's no use. In the heat of the creative battle, it always happens to me again... :)
I have tried everything!
Wiped it dry.
Wiped it wet.
Scrubbed it.
Nothing helped.
Yet it is so important to treat your cutting mat to a wellness day every now and then!
Here are my tips for a sparkling clean, well-maintained cutting mat – in no time at all! ;)
Where does the lint in the cutting mat come from?
The stubborn lint in the cutting mat comes from fibers being pressed into the mat's material while cutting. This is especially common with interfacing.
The cutting mat naturally has a "self-healing" effect. This means the cut closes up again on its own. However, unfortunately, with the lint inside.
And because the cutting mat does its job (i.e., self-healing) so well, the lint and fuzz end up stuck absolutely tight.
I’ve mentioned this elsewhere before: A good cutting mat is truly important for sewing. And if you, like me, enjoy working on a large surface, meaning a large cutting mat, then a lint problem isn't just a small issue—it’s a major one. ;)
I have several cutting mats that I use for different purposes. At the moment, I like the Olfa cutting mat* the best, as it is slightly softer than the pink one in the photos. This means the ruler sits flatter, doesn't slip as easily, and the rotary cutter blade stays sharp longer. I also like that the Olfa is well-made and doesn't tend to warp.
And yes, the lint also gets stuck firmly in the Olfa mat. It just needs its wellness day too! ;)
Reading tip: Buying a self-healing cutting mat – Test report
Why should you clean your cutting mats?
Well, it’s basically obvious: The better you take care of your sewing accessories, the longer they last. With cutting mats, there is another aspect: accuracy. When working with a rotary cutter, lint detaches from the fabric. It is pushed into the surface of the cutting mat by the blade.
When the lines are full of lint everywhere, it's easy for things to get messy. :)
Furthermore, the ruler slips more easily when cutting because the mat no longer provides enough resistance due to the lint buildup.
All good reasons to take care of your cutting mat again, right?
Reading tip: Everything about rotary cutters: Review, tricks, and 10 death traps
Cleaning the cutting mat with packing tape or adhesive tape
A hot tip from my SewSimple Facebook group!
For quick de-linting: Stick packing tape onto the linty area, press it down well, and then peel it off. Just imagine you are treating your cutting mat to a waxing wellness day!
Cleaning with a lint roller
For quick de-linting between tasks, a lint roller is a really great tool (not to mention that it can also roll thread remnants and lint off the fabric)! Simply roll it over the surface of the cutting mat briefly before or after working.
Cleaning with scouring cream
You’d better keep your hands off this option! Scouring cream roughens the surface of the cutting mat and makes it even more "susceptible" to dirt and lint. At the same time, the adhesive surface, which is specifically designed to prevent fabrics from slipping during cutting, is abraded.
Cleaning with a glass ceramic scraper
You should also avoid this. I tried it and ended up adding even more gouges to my cutting mat than it already had.
Deep cleaning
For a deep clean, I use a slightly damp, soft microfiber cloth.
I bend the cutting mat over my knee or the edge of a table while cleaning so that the cuts with the lint inside can open up. While doing so, I wipe the lint out of the cuts with the microfiber cloth. This usually works best in the direction of the cut, not across it.
If the lint is particularly deep, I like to use a soft eraser that allows me to work precisely. A silicone pad, which I always have ready on my sewing table anyway, also helps very well.
A small tip on the side: There’s almost nothing better for getting thread remnants out of fabric, too! ;)
I remove deeply embedded lint from Thermolam & Co with a silicone pad used as a makeup sponge (these silicone pads you can stick into shoes also work very well—they have a wavy side and a smooth side that you can use depending on your needs!).
The silicone pad is moved in circular motions over the lint.
Of course, for such cleaning sessions, I also always have my anatomical tweezers* handy to pick at anything that might have been left behind.
Afterwards, I wipe the cutting mat with a slightly damp cloth using lukewarm water and a bit of detergent (I use dish soap).
If the dirt doesn't come off with that, I have my ultimate secret tip for you right here. :)
Secret tip: Cleaning with micellar water
The most effective cleaning agent I have tried so far: My micellar facial cleanser.
This is no joke! What’s good for my face will be okay for my cutting mat, I thought. And it’s true. It doesn't damage the mat's surface and gets it squeaky clean!
With this, I tackle the last residues of adhesive (spray adhesive, embarrassing!) and ink (from textile printing...).
Here’s how: I moisten the rough side of a dry kitchen sponge with micellar water.
Then I clean the mat in circular motions.
Finally, I wipe it off again with a damp microfiber cloth.
In this way, I’ve really managed to get even the worst dirt off the mat. And it looks as good as new (well, it does have a few scratches and scars—it has been through quite a lot after all...). ;)
Now the mat is allowed to dry lying flat.
And then it's ready for its next use!
Caring for your cutting mat: What should you look out for?
Sharp rotary cutter: The blunter the rotary cutter, the more pressure you have to apply to actually cut the fabric. I always make sure to have a really sharp blade. This also ensures that the mat gets fine cuts instead of coarse ones.
I have had the best experiences—as with the Olfa mat—using the (not very spectacular-looking) rotary cutters from Olfa* and I now own them in all sizes (I have two of the 28mm size because I keep losing one). If you want to know more about my favorite sewing accessories, feel free to take a look at my article on the topic!
Heat causes permanent waves: Strong temperature fluctuations can cause the cutting mat to warp. I always make sure (after I had "styled" two cutting mats this way) to protect the mat from direct sunlight and excessive heat.
Better to lie down: Cutting mats really don't like being stored in a bent state. If you want to use your table for eating instead of sewing every now and then (it happens!), don't just lean your cutting mat in the corner. Better to lay it under the bed—it has enough space there to wait for its next task in a relaxed way! ;)
Standing works too: Move a cabinet or dresser just far enough away from the wall to fit the cutting mat behind it. Then you can also store it upright.
Storing the cutting mat hanging: Sometimes cutting mats come with perforations from the manufacturer for hanging. If you want to store your cutting mat hanging, you can punch it (not too close to the edge) and hang it with S-hooks. Make sure it lies flat against the wall and doesn't warp.
Two is better than one: Consider using one side of the cutting mat only for fabrics and the other only for interfacing.
Switch cutting areas: Do you catch yourself cutting your fabrics in the same area of the cutting mat all the time? Over time, deep grooves can form that can then lead your rotary cutter "off track." Like ruts on a highway. Why not try varying your cutting zones?
If you find that difficult, you can also rotate the cutting mat. Missing the scale? Simply add it by hand with a permanent marker. :)
Better to iron: You want to park your iron on the cutting mat? Then I recommend a cute, homemade ironing board. The mat should under no circumstances come into contact with ironing heat!
Is your cutting mat squeaky clean now?
Then why not treat your sewing machine to a wellness day too! ;)
Happy simple sewing, your Sabine
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