Maintaining your OLFA® Rotary Mats for Longer Llife

Your rotary mat is often one of the unsung heroes of your quilting/sewing projects. You may not give it much thought until something goes wrong. Your mat not only protects your work surface but also helps to extend the life of your rotary blades. So let's dig into how to best care for your OLFA rotary mat so it can continue to support your crafting for years to come:

• Always use an OLFA® cutting mat when using rotary cutting tools to help protect your work surface.
• Clean & Clear - Keep all cutting surfaces free from pins, needles, fabric, and other items you don’t want to cut.
• Cleaning - Occasionally clean your cutting tools with light detergent and a soft, damp cloth. Avoid spraying cleaning products on to the surfaces but spray into a cloth instead. Keep your tools germ free, especially when sharing them or during cold and flu season.
• Fibers - If fibers have become imbedded into your cutting mat, use a lint roller or heavy tape to remove them. An art gum eraser found at art supply stores will help pull out fibers, too. For plush fabric or cotton batting, turn the mat over and use the back, ungridded side.
• Store mats flat – under a bed or under a table works best. Don’t leave in a warm or cold vehicle and out of direct sunlight. Don’t use as an ironing surface. A warped mat cannot be made flat again.
• Move your cuts around - Resist cutting over and over in the same place on your mat. It inhibits the self-healing properties in the mat, causing a groove that will make your cuts less accurate and dulling your blade.