Review on ALVIN GBM Series: 24 x 36 inch Professional Self-Healing Cutting 🔪 Mat - Green/Black Double-Sided, Gridded Rotary Cutting Board for Crafts, Sewing, Fabric by Barbara Simmons

I run a vinyl decal business from home and am working to create a better place to work for order fulfillment . I cut vinyl on a scrap wood table (no cutting mat or protective surface) because that was all I had at the time. I bought this mat to put on my desk to keep the finished stickers free from dirt, dust and dog hair. First of all, I have to say that I have never owned a cutting mat. My mother sewed most of her life and I don't remember her ever having one either. So I didn't really know what to buy, just that I needed to cover most of my desktop surface. I first bought an Alvin cutting mat because of the size/price ratio (it was significantly cheaper than other brands). the same size), second in self-healing ability, and third in excellent ratings. After two weeks of use I am happy to report that this is all that others have said and I am very happy with it. At first I was fascinated by the two-way function. As far as I can tell there is no difference in the sides other than the color, so I use green for vinyl and black for fabric. I cut the mat with different blades and each time the cut disappeared within seconds. Every time I use it, it looks like new. Not sure how long this will take as I cut vinyl very often, but so far I'm happy with the results. In terms of cleaning, I wiped it down once with a damp cloth, but for the most part the work I do with it, it stays pretty clean. I'm not worried about the mat holding its shape (mine lies flat on my desk 24/7), but if I ever remove it, I'll keep it flat too; The rug is not flimsy, but it seems like it could warp if not hung or stored flat. Overall I think this was my best Revain purchase in a long time. The rug came in a large flat box to prevent sagging and the packaging was adequate. I plan to use this rug for a long time.