I've had mine for about 6-7 years. Don't have any immediate plans to replace it. It is starting to get a bit worn, but not to where it is in need of replacement. It is a light blue 18 x 24 by June Taylor. I only use the side with the grid as the back is slick.

I've had my 24" x 36" for about 9 years. It's an olfa. I completely wore out a section where I do most of my cutting. Also has a very annoying warp on the side I use. I've turned it around, but the other side is just as bad. So I purchased a new one a few days ago. By Gingher. new technology supposed to last longer. We'll see.

I've never soaked mine, do you just put it in. Hot water?

so, how long do you think is not long enough? different mats have different (lives) and it depends on how much you use it- and how often you change to a new blade- whether or not you clean it, take care of it- the types of fabric you cut, and if you use it for things beyond a rotary cutter. I have one of the large 39" x 59" mats- in 10 years I have replaced it once- one of my local shops has the same one- they replace theirs every year. I have a mat cleaner- it is a small disc with a handle- from Nancy's Notions- with a very fine grit sanding stone- it cleans up and keeps it nice if I cut any fabrics that tend to stick to it- (like silks) also, you should not have to push hard on your cutter- if you find you have to apply pressure it's time for a new blade- if you change your blade as soon as you are not getting good cuts- notice you have to apply more pressure your mat will stay nice longer. I use mine A LOT! like every day- I feel I get my money's worth- even my small mats which I also use regularly hold up- my rotating mat gets used almost daily since I use it for applique a lot has held up - shows no sign of needing replacing in 5 years of use and counting

I do the same thing as RyansAmysmom. If you get a new one every two or three yrs your blades last longer. I also use the back of mine cause the ones are not somthing I use very often.

I've been using my two Dritz 36" x 36" white mats for over 30 years, sometimes both at once next to each other on my dining table and sometimes one gets far more use than the other. I do have a couple of the green Olfa's, but even though I've had them just as long I've only used them to take to classes. If the two Dritz mats ever die, I have no idea what I'll do.

I am just curious...what brand of cutting matts last 8-15-20 years? I must be REALLY hard on matts as they have not lasted that long at all. I do not soak them so maybe that would help.

I've had my green (Olfa?) mat for over 14 years. I do rotate occasionally so I'm not cutting pieces and blocks in the same spot all the time.

I've never soaked it in the tub....heck! I don't have time to soak ME in the tub! It's starting to show a little age (aren't we all) but it should last many more years.

Someone mentioned flipping the boards over....don't think I ever did that! Maybe I have a new board just waiting to be used!

Nan

I use my big mat daily. I do rotate my mats and turn them over occasionally. I prefer the solid side because I find the grid distracting for most cutting, so that side does tend to wear out faster. I use a scrubbie crocheted of nylon netting to clean my mat. Works better than anything else I've tried to get those teeny bits of thread that embed in the mat. I admit I probably don't change my blades as often a I should, although I do sharpen them frequently. I have worn through two smaller Olfa mats in about 3 or 4 years each. One of them I blame cutting felt. Right now I'm using one of those one-sided blue mats that isn't the self-healing kind because they cost less to replace. But I think it's harder on the blades than the softer ones. It's kind of a catch 22: Change your blade, save your mat. Change your mat, save your blade. Both are expensive.

And will someone please explain about the soaking? That is one thing I've never heard about.

I must be hard on cutting mats. I find I have to replace mine about every three years. I know keeping a really sharp blade keeps them from getting deep grooves.. but it one of those pay for lots of blades or pay for new mats... it all seems to work out to be the same in the end.