To clean a Cricut mat and help it get sticky again, start with the gentlest methods and only move to stronger cleaners if needed.

Quick Scoop

  • Use gentle cleaners first (baby wipes, mild dish soap, Simple Green/Windex–type cleaners).
  • Always avoid harsh scrubbing, super hot water, and strong chemicals on the adhesive.
  • Let the mat air-dry completely before using it again.

Step‑by‑step basic cleaning

  1. Remove loose debris
    • Use a Cricut scraper or an old store card to lightly scrape off leftover paper and vinyl bits.
 * Pick off stubborn chunks with your fingers or tweezers instead of digging into the adhesive.
  1. Baby wipe method (gentle & popular)
    • Choose alcohol‑free, lotion‑free baby wipes.
    • Wipe the mat in small circular motions over the whole surface using light pressure so you don’t strip the glue.
 * Let it air‑dry flat until it is completely dry and tacky again.
  1. Dish soap & water method
    • Lay the mat flat near a sink.
    • Rinse with lukewarm (not hot) water.
 * Add a small amount of mild dish soap (like blue Dawn) to a soft cloth, sponge, or soft brush.
 * Gently scrub in circular motions to lift dirt and fibers without gouging the adhesive.

 * Rinse well and let the mat air‑dry flat; do not towel‑dry or you’ll add lint.

Tip: These soap‑and‑water methods are not recommended for the pink FabricGrip mat, which uses a different adhesive that can be ruined by soaking and scrubbing.

Stronger cleaners (when mat is really gunky)

If baby wipes and soap aren’t enough, crafters often use light household sprays:

  • Glass cleaner (like Windex)
    • Spray a light, even coat over the mat surface and let it sit about 5 minutes to loosen residue.
* Gently scrub with a soft brush in circles, rinse with lukewarm water, and air‑dry completely.
  • Diluted all‑purpose cleaner (Simple Green, “Awesome” cleaner, etc.)
    • Lightly spray the mat; if concentrated, dilute with water first.
* Let sit 5–10 minutes, then gently scrape or brush to remove residue.

* Rinse and air‑dry flat.

Always test stronger cleaners on an older mat first, and keep in mind that very aggressive methods (like magic erasers or very strong degreasers) can shorten mat life even if they work in the short term.

Making it sticky again (resticking)

When a mat is clean but still not sticky enough, many long‑time users “restick” it to squeeze out more life:

  1. Tape off the non‑sticky borders with painter’s or masking tape so you don’t get glue where the rollers run.
  1. Use a low‑tack repositionable adhesive such as a Zig 2‑Way Glue pen to draw overlapping lines of glue over the cutting area.
  1. Let the glue dry completely so it turns tacky, then remove the tape.
  1. If it’s too sticky, dab with a clean lint‑free cloth to knock back some tack.

Important: Some makers warn that using third‑party adhesive on mats can technically void a machine warranty if something goes wrong, so many people wait until their warranty period is over before resticking.

Care tips so you clean less often

  • Always put the clear protective film back on the mat when not in use to keep dust off.
  • Use the right mat for the material (LightGrip for paper, StandardGrip for vinyl/cardstock, StrongGrip for heavy materials) so you don’t overload the adhesive.
  • Avoid touching the mat surface with your hands; skin oils build up and kill the stick faster.
  • Retire extremely worn mats to “messy” jobs like glitter cardstock or as backing for craft projects instead of fighting to restore them forever.

TL;DR: Gently scrape off debris, clean with baby wipes or mild soap and lukewarm water, let the mat air‑dry flat, and only then consider light sprays or a restick glue if it still is not sticky enough.