Reviving Cricut Mat

My 12x12 Cricut Mat has lost it's stickiness. Is there something I can buy to revive it? I have tried the little household tricks (washing it with warm soapey water, wiping it with Windex) and they have not worked. I went to M's today to find a new mat but they only had ones for the small bug.

Please help!

TIA

Mine has also just about lost all it's stickiness. Do you have a Hobby Lobby? Mine always has the mats in stock...need to go and get one this weekend. The other day I was using my cricut and the paper just flew everywhere while it was cutting...NOT GOOD!

I haven't tried any of the household tips...

Try rubbing alcohol. HTH

I have had a fair amount of success using with masking tape to get more use out of my baby bug mats.

I have added on the back of my papers a little glue to hold it in place and it help. Cause it would be stitcky when I was ready to place! hth.

(what i used below)

I have done the little bit of soap and warm water and it does help alot.

I have used a tacky roller. Helps for a while. I don't use anything wet. Sice it's paper stuck to it, wet stuff will just soften the paper on it, not take it off. Every couple of uses, just tacky roll it. Doesn't last forever, but it's better than going through them so often.

Thanks everyone for the tips!!! Off to try some more!!!!

Ive washed mine and its made it last longer, but unfortunately i still have to buy them too often. Try hobby lobby or evil bay if your store is out of that size mat.

I just bought some new ones yesterday, and they seem different to me. The middle is more white than the grey ones from before, and the stickiness felt different, like the paper peeled off like butter. I wonder if Provocraft changed the adhesive. I hope they did, and I hope it lasts longer, if so.

search the archives.. I don't have this machiene but I think I read a post not so long ago about sraying a spray adhesive on them to make them last longer.

They definitely changed the adhesive. My first mat didn't last the first day, the new one I bought has been used many times and the adhesive is like new.

I used spray adhesive and it works, almost too much at first. I did buy new mats online because M did not carry the 12x12 one which sucks because they sell the cricut expression there. I tried washing it in warm soapy water and it did not work.

I tried all the recomended tips like washing it, using a lint roller, using baby wipes. None of that worked for me. I bought a can of spray adhesive..that works great. I also buy the 12 x 24 mats now and cut them in half

I read in an earlier post to use quilters spray glue, I haven't had to get any yet, but will soon, my mat is fast loosing it's stickyness.

I use Krylon EZ-Tac spray repositional adhesive on my cutting mats for my Craft Robo (computer-connected cutter). I buy this stuff at M's. I think the cricut mats have a border that is not supposed to be sticky, right? If that's the case, then make sure to mask it off before you spray. I always wash my mats in warm soapy water and air dry completely before spraying to make sure to get the paper fibers, lint, and anything else off before I spray. Then I give it two light coats of EZ-tac (spray outside) waiting a few minutes between coats. After a few more minutes of drying the mats are ready to use again.

I tried washing in warm soapy water and rolling the mat with a lint roller and neither really worked. I also tried the masking tape and it worked ok, but I had to put it at the corners and along the sides in several places to get it to hold. DH picked me up a can of Elmer's Craft Bond Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive, Temporary or Permanent Bond, at Walmart for less than $3.00. It works really well for me. The trick, imo, is to get a light coat on the mat, wait a few minutes to let it start to dry, and then test the tackiness with your fingers before laying the paper on it. You may have to wait a few minutes longer depending on the weather. The first couple times you use it, you'll want to use the spatula tool to get your cuts off the mat. I've only sprayed mine once, but have cut quite a bit on it.
Our Walmart has started carrying the 12x12 mats for $11.00.
That being said, I have only had my expression for less than 2 weeks, so there may be something better to try. I got all the tips from the forums here.
The Elmer's is also acid-free.

My mat is gone too! I can not find one ANYWHERE! I guess I will have to order one online.

I cut the 12 x 24 in half when I can't find new 12x12. Also, I have used the Krylon responsitionalbe adhesive. worked pretty good. I have also used painters tape to tape the edges of the paper to the mat.