Found a cheap fix for my warped cutting mat after 5 tries

My 12 inch cutting mat started curling at the edges a few weeks ago and it kept messing up my straight cuts. I tried flattening it with heavy books and even a hair dryer, nothing worked. Then I flipped it over and ran warm water over the back side, let it dry flat on my kitchen counter overnight. It's been 3 days now and the corners are staying down, has anyone else tried the water trick or is there a better way to keep it flat long term?

2 comments

2 Comments

alexk608d ago

Whoa wait, warm water on the back and it actually worked? That's wild, I would've thought that'd make it worse by making the cardboard or whatever swell up. I've got the same issue with my big 24 inch one and I've been using a heavy cutting board on top of it for a week straight, but the second I take it off the edges pop right back up. How long did you let it soak before drying, or did you just run it under the tap real quick? I'm tempted to try this but I'm scared to ruin my good mat.

jamesroberts8d ago

Did you end up going for it yet, or still holding off? I mean, I was exactly where you are a few months back, so I get the hesitation. Honestly, I didn't soak it at all, I just ran the back under lukewarm tap water for maybe ten seconds, just enough to get the surface damp, not dripping. Then I flipped it over, laid it flat on the table, and stacked a couple of heavy books on just the curled corners for about four hours. The key for me was patting it dry with a towel first so the water didn't sit and warp the foam underneath, and then it stayed flat after that. I've done it twice now on my old 24 inch and it's held up fine, no swelling or anything, but I wouldn't leave it wet for longer than a minute or two. Maybe try it on a corner first with a washcloth if you're nervous, that way you can test it without committing the whole mat.