Cricut mats are probably the most helpful tool you can ever have for crafting. No matter what you are designing, it’s the most helpful tool you can ever have for crafting.
No matter what you are designing, they are always available for you to create some amazing and beautiful projects. You can use them multiple times, but the only downside of this is that they can get dirty really easily. After every project, it’s obvious that some scraps of paper and debris will be left on your Cricut mat, which can ruin its quality.
When this happens, mats lose their adhesiveness, leading many crafters—particularly new ones—to believe that their mats are now useless. They decide to throw it away, and that’s where they go wrong. A great thing about these mats is that once they are cleaned properly, they get their adhesiveness back and work just like they used to!
Yes, you read that right! There is a solution for making the Cricut mats sticky again. If you dumped old mats into the trash, thinking they can’t be used anymore then unfortunately you may have wasted some of your dollars. But the good news is that you can fix those mistakes by cleaning your current Cricut mats!
So be sure to read this article all the way through if you want to learn everything there is to know about keeping your craft mats in good condition.
Suggested: Cricut Mat Storage Ideas
What is a Cricut Mat?
Before we start the main topic, let’s take a look at the basics of the Cricut mats so that you can understand everything very well.
Cricut mats are reusable, sticky, and flexible sheets of plastic that easily help you cut materials like paper, vinyl, cardstock, and wood with your Cricut machine. These mats have a sticky area on them that helps you hold the material while the Cricut machine is cutting it.
If you try to cut materials without mats, they may not remain in the same place, which can completely waste the material and ruin your project, which is why they are so important to every crafter.
Furthermore, once the cut is done, you can easily remove your material in perfect shape from the mat without damaging it. Afterward, you can keep your Cricut mat safe and use it for your next projects.
Lastly, there are four types of Cricut mats, which are differentiated by their colors and adhesiveness. All of them are used for different materials, and here’s some info about them:
- Blue Mat—Light Grip: For light materials like paper and vinyl
- Green Mat—Medium Grip: For heavy materials like Cardstock
- Purple Mat – Strong Grip: For materials like Wood
- Fabric Mat—Especially for fabrics
How Long Does A Cricut Mat Last?
Unfortunately, Cricut mats do not last very long; no matter how well you clean them, they will lose their sticky surface after a certain number of uses and become completely useless.
Normally, a Cricut mat lasts for at least 40 to 50 uses. Those who craft daily may need to change their mats often since 40–50 is a really small amount for a daily crafter to use.
It is true that you can extend their life with some tips, but keep in mind that they will not last forever, which means that once your old mat has lost its adhesiveness, it is time to replace it!
Tips for Cricut Mats Lasts Long
Here are some of the best tips to make your Cricut mats last. If your mats wear out really fast, then consider using these tips:
1. Clean Them After Every Use
Cleaning them after every single use may seem like a lot, but since debris, dust, and scraps of paper are left on mats, it’s important to clean them after each use. To clean your Cricut sheets, you will need a tool like a scraper, spatula, lint roller, or an old credit card. Run any of the tools on your mat thoroughly and scrape off all the debris available.
If the dust and debris still don’t go away, you can try washing your mat with soap and lukewarm water. It’s also a safe DIY tip; just wash it with some soap and water, then scrub all the sticky areas, and it will become new again!
2. Hang Them On Walls
Many people keep their mats in boxes, where they often get ruined because of a lack of space. To avoid such a situation, try to hang them on your empty walls; they won’t take up a lot of space. Doing this will help you make your Cricut man’s life longer and make your house even more decorated.
3. Use The Proper Material For The Appropriate Mat
Many people ignore the fact that every mat serves a different purpose. We have listed the uses of every mat above, and you should use them as directed; otherwise, you may not get perfect cuts of the materials or you may damage your mats.
So make sure you never use hard materials like wood or heavy cardstock on a pink mat and avoid using light materials like paper and vinyl on a purple mat. This can save both your mat and materials and help them last longer.
4. Cover Them With A Protective Sheet After Use
Every mat comes with a plastic protective sheet that helps it remain clean and safe when not in use. After you clean your mats, make sure to apply these sheets to them so that they can stay protected even when you aren’t using them. If sheets get old, you should change to newer ones to extend your Cricut mat’s life.
How To Make Cricut Mats Sticky Again
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you clean a Cricut mat; if it’s really old, it will lose its stickiness. But in such a situation, you don’t have to worry since you can bring back its stickiness easily. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making your mat sticky again.
Step 1: Tape the corners of your mat properly, so that the adhesive spray doesn’t make the corners sticky.
Step 2: Thoroughly spray any adhesive spray on the sticky area to make it sticky again. Adhesive sprays are available all over the internet; they are cheap and make anything sticky; purchase the best ones.
Step 3: Spray at least 2–3 layers of adhesive on the mat for best results; more than that can make it too sticky, which may be bad for your crafts and Cricut machine.
Conclusion
Cricut mats are the best friend of every crafter, so it’s our responsibility to keep them safe and clean. If they wear out easily, then you can try the tips given above to extend their life! Just remember to replace your mat every 40-50 uses.
If they are still new but have lost their stickiness, then use an adhesive spray on them so that they can hold your materials easily and help you make your outstanding crafts!
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