Spring Cleaning.....A Good as New (ScanNCut) Cutting Mat

My ScaNCut mat was a mess.

It had lots of specks and shreds of card stock stuck to it.

Actually, the very first time I used it..

it was so super sticky that nearly the entire sheet of card stock stuck to it...

and

All of those card stock pieces... and more..

have been on the mat ever since.

I poked around on line 

reading up on different ways to refresh...clean.....and rejuvenate cutting mats.

I didn't want to use chemicals
So I decided to try the baby-wipe method
It seemed like the reviews from those who tried this method
 were all positive...
and got a thumbs up.
So I bought a package of baby wipes that are all natural...organic....scent free...chemical free etc...
at the local organic market/health food store.

I did have an opened mind about the possibility 

of needing to spray on an adhesive restoring product...

So I ordered this...to have on hand...

just in case I needed to apply something "sticky" to the mat.
and
I had a plan...
just IN CASE I had to use it...
this being...SPRAY IT OUTSIDE OF THE STUDIO...
and...
wear a face mask
(3 times in the ring with 3 different cancers makes me a cautious person when it comes to chemicals)

So here's my grungy looking ScanNCut mat
See the card stock pieces...
both large an small
on the mat?
Look at that big one.....right up front!
That's from the first time I used the mat...when almost the entire sheet of card stock was stuck to the mat..
and I DO mean S T U C K

Look at that mat!
Well loved and very used...
and very messy

                            

The info that I read on line said to take an alcohol free...scent free baby wipe...
and scrub a small area..
approx 3x3 inches...at a time...
in a circular motion

I started out that way...
and then thought...
Hey!....wait a sec...
I think I'll lay the damp wipes over the mat..
and let them sit there..
while I worked on the first section...
so...
that's what I did.

I finished the first section...
and look!!
Look at how dirty that wipe is!
Look at all of the "stuff" on that wipe!
I used the little spatula that came with the ScanNCut to lose stubborn pieces...
But truthfully...there weren't many...
Leaving the wipes on the mat to soften and loosen everything was a good idea...
Minimal "scrubbing and rubbing was needed...
Almost everything wiped off easily.
The left side of the mat is looking good...isnt it?

The Mat: Lookin' good!
The wipe: Not so good...(yuck)

Yipes stripes!
Look at what was stuck on the mat...
even though I clean it after every use

More paper pills...
coming up off of the mat 1-2-3
and so easily

Look!!!
less than 10 minutes of time..
and
minimal elbow grease required...
and...
LOOK AT THE END RESULT!!
Now that's a beautiful thing!!
and
it makes the Felix Unger in me uber happy!!

and....
here's a close-up
It looks...and performs...
as if it's a brand new mat
that is perfectly tacky and useful
and...best of all....
no need to use the spray!!!
Cleaning it up with the wipes...
restored the tackiness !

And there you have it...
a good way to kick off your craft space Spring cleaning!
...a simple..effective way to clean your cutting mats

Thanks for visiting!

And I hope that you'll find this info to be useful...when you need to clean your cutting mats

Michelle