When you first purchase your silicone baking mat, it might seem like the easiest thing in the world to clean. All you need is some water and dish soap, right? Well, it’s not quite that simple. The truth is that while silicone mats are excellent for any cooking project- they’re nonstick and flexible- they can get very dirty if not properly cared for. And while we all know how important it is to keep our kitchen sponges, dishes, and other items as clean as possible, we often forget about one of the most important tools in our kitchen: our silicone baking mat. You’ll be surprised how simple it is to keep your mat clean and ready for use!
1. How to Clean a Silicone Baking Mat?
You can a silicone baking mat easily tackle this greasy task with some dish soap and hot water. Make sure you use a cloth or sponge with some elbow grease to make sure you get any stubborn grime off of your mat. But this is only if you get it right after cooking something on it. It’s not as easy to clean if you leave the food or gunk stuck on it. Keep reading if that’s the position you have found yourself in.
2. How to Keep Your Silicone Baking Mat Fresh and Ready for Use
In order to keep your mat fresh and ready for use, you’ll want to take a few simple precautions. The first is to make sure that you clean the mat after every use. How long it takes to dry between uses depends on how damp the surface of the mat gets, but be sure to give it a good hour before using it again. You can also bolster this time by sticking your mat in the oven on low heat or trying out one of these great hacks that use essential oils with baking soda! Finally, if possible, do not place hot items directly onto the silicone surface. This could cause damage over time.
3. How to Prevent Your Silicone Baking Mat from Getting Dirty in the First Place
In order to prevent your silicone baking mat from getting dirty in the first place, you will need to make sure that you clean up any messes as quickly as possible. If you leave gunk on your baking mat for too long, the grease may seep into the surface and be more difficult to get off. You can speed up this process by using dish soap and hot water with a cloth or sponge. Another way to keep your mat fresh is by washing it after each use.
4. How To Store Your Silicone Baking Mat Safely so It Doesn’t Get Messy
It is important to store your silicone baking mat in a dry place. Don’t forget about the little spaces in your cabinets, too! Storing it somewhere with lots of moisture can leave it vulnerable to damage. You’ll also want to be sure that the mat isn’t folded, crinkled, or wrinkled. This can also cause damage and could even stop it from flattening back out!
5. How To Care For A Greasy, Sticky, or Smelly Silicone Baking Mat
If after washing, your baking mat still has oily stains, you can try sprinkling it with coarse salt and scrubbing the surface with a damp sponge or cloth. Once done, be sure to rinse the mat thoroughly with some warm water so it is free of any residual salt particles.
What You Need:
– Warm Water
– Dish Soap
– Sponge or Cloth
- Get a large bowl full of warm water and several drops of dish soap.
- Dip your sponge or cloth into the soapy water, then wring it out until it’s not dripping but just slightly moist.
- Gently wipe down your baking mat in a circular motion, making sure to get any tough-to-remove gunk off of the surface.
- Rinse your baking mat with warm water, then put it out to dry for at least 24 hours before using it again.
6. How To Prevent And Remove Odor From a Silicone Cooking Tool
If you are looking for ways to remove bad odor from your silicone utensil, there are some steps that you can take to ensure they smell fresher. One way is to use white vinegar to wipe out the smell quickly.
Another option is placing it in the dishwasher with some white vinegar or washing it by hand with dish soap and hot water. This will help remove any leftover food particles that may be contributing to the unpleasant smell.
To prevent future smells, avoid using abrasive items on your silicone utensils which can leave scratches on the surface of your utensils. You may also want to keep it away from heat as this may cause ugly brown marks on your baking mat or utensils.
7. Can I wash my silicone mat in the dishwasher?
We do not recommend putting the silicone mat in the dishwasher, because it will reduce the life cycle of your item. In addition, please don’t use any other chemicals while cleaning your Silicone Mat or other cooking tools that come into contact with food, such as a sponge scrubber. The gentle side of a sponge should be sufficient for cleaning and scrubbing.
If it is still dirty after washing with soapy water, you can use a sponge with a non-abrasive cleanser on the other side.
Cleaning the baking mat simply requires wiping it down with a damp sponge or cloth to remove cooked-on residue, without using any harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners which could damage the surface.
Final thoughts
We hope you now have a clean silicone mat and have learned how to keep it clean in the future. If you have any other proven tips and tricks to clean a silicone mat, let us know in the comments below and we would love to test them out.
