How To Clean Your Cricut Mat & Make Them Sticky Again

Cricut mats can get dull, dirty and lose their stickiness over time.

Ideally, these sticky mats are only to be used for a few dozen times before they become inaccurate, non-sticky surfaces that can ruin a potentially perfect craft, but don’t throw them away just yet!

In this article, we’ll show you several ways on how to clean your Cricut mat and restore it to optimal condition. Moreover, we’ll present a few effective methods on how to restick your mat and make it good as new.

Cricut mats come in several different variants, but the method of cleaning should be more or less the same. You’ll find this guide useful when you need to re-use an old Cricut, a silhouette mat or a cake mat that’s used for baking.

You’ll save a perfectly good Cricut mat, a few dollars and it can be a fun project, to boot. So what are you waiting for? Gather some good old cleaning materials and let’s get started!

Cleaning Your Cricut Mat

A Cricut mat somehow loses its purpose when the surface has become inaccurate and unable to produce precise cuts.

You’ll know when it’s time to clean the mat when materials don’t stick as well as they used to, or when the surface has become dirty and if there are soft particles that get in the way.

Cleaning the mat won’t require you to use specialized materials. In fact, some of them may be found in most homes and cleaning cabinets.

Step 1 - Light Cleaning

The first thing you’ll want to do is whip out your trusty plastic scraper, which should come in with your purchase of the Cricut machine. If not, any similar hard plastic scraper will do. Run the material along the surface gently and in a methodical manner to dislodge small debris. Do this several times before proceeding to the next step.

Step 2 - Baby Wipes and Lint Roller

Believe it or not, baby wipes are the perfect cleaning companions for your Cricut mat as they’re damp and soft enough to leave your mat unscathed. But here’s the thing- not all baby wipes can be used to clean Cricut mats! Choose one that’s bleach and alcohol-free, or risk losing the mat’s stickiness forever.

Run the wipe through the surface slowly, and make sure to cover everything in a straight line. You may be tempted to reach for that nail varnish remover, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Baby wipes and lint rollers, and sometimes a good old-fashioned soap and water should work wonders in making your Cricut mat look restored and ready for cutting.

Lint rollers serve to fulfill two functions. One, it can take away stubborn matter that won’t come away with plastic scrapers and baby wipes. Two, rollers are sticky and can transfer some of their stickiness onto the mat’s surface. Sometimes, the one-two combination of baby wipes and lint rollers is enough to remove mild build-up.

Step 3 - Soap & Water

Once in a while, you will want to give your Cricut mat a bath using a container that’s filled with soapy water.

Allow the mat to soak for around 5 to 10 minutes before taking it out. If there is stuff that won’t come off, then employ a small brush and rinse with warm water. You can also use a sponge, a Magic Eraser or an adhesive remover for particular debris. Just make sure to read the instructions that come with the cleaning product. Oh, and you’ll probably need to restick your mat afterwards.

Step 4 - Air Dry

When you’re satisfied with how clean your Cricut mat looks, it’s time to hang it up to dry.

Wait for the mat to be completely dry before using it again. Using a towel, tissue or paper will be counter-intuitive as small bits will stick to the surface and minimize overall effectiveness.

How To Restore Stickiness in Cricut Mats

Has your Cricut mat lost its stickiness and now you can’t be as accurate as you’d like?

No worries- there are several methods on how you can make it sticky and functional again.

You’ll need an adhesive spray, aka a sticky spray or repositionable adhesive for this one. These are all available at retail craft stores and online shops and are fairly inexpensive. Keep in mind that each product may have different instructions of use, so make sure to read them before anything else.

Some unconventional re-stick items you can use in a pinch include quilt basting spray, repositionable glue sticks, and scrapbooking glue. If you have all the materials ready, let’s proceed.

Secure the edges of your Cricut mat using masking or painter’s tape. It’s important to not make the edges sticky so they won’t ruin the cutting machine.

Step 1 – Remove any remaining stickiness to ensure the adhesive spray will evenly coat the mat. Apply plain rubbing alcohol or Goo Gone on the surface, then go over it with a scrapper.

Step 2 – Slowly spray or apply the sticky spray and coat the surface of the Cricut mat evenly. Some products will require you to brush a few times, while others work their magic just by making contact. Once again, follow instructions on the label for the best results.

Step 3 – Let the adhesive rest and bond to the mat’s surface properly. After about 15 to 20 minutes, carefully remove the tape on the sides and inspect the finished product. Your Cricut mat should be good as new and ready for action!