Can you use any mat you want when you’re working with air dry clay? Yes, you can, but don’t cry when clay starts to stick to the mat and the project you made tears apart when lifting it up.
Air dry clay tends to get messy and the surface you work on should be able to clean easily. 🧼
I’m a beginner air dry clay artist, and I faced lots of issues when my clay stuck to the surface and tore apart when lifting during my first trinket tray project. ☹️
I did some research about the mats that go well with air dry clay and found a few good ones. One of them is a PVC mat. 🔍
Now I use a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) mat for all my air dry clay projects and it gives me no headache and clay does not stick like it does on others. ✨
Let me tell you why I decided to use PVC mat and what benefits you can gain by using it over others.
Benefits of using a PVC mat
Here are the key benefits I experienced and found using a PVC mat for working with air dry clay.
Smooth, texture-free rolling
PVC mats have a smooth and texture-free surface. When you roll air sry clay slab over it, it gives a nice, smooth and flat finish without any textures.
Non-stick surface
PVC mat does not stick to air-dry clay when kneading and rolling. Even though the PVC mat surface is smooth, it is not as smooth as glass. Therefore, wet air dry clay does not form vacuum-like areas when it comes into contact with PVC mat.
Your clay slab won’t tear apart when lifting it up.
Easy to clean
You can simply clean your PVC mat by wiping or rinsing it off instantly with water. No mess. I wash it in the sink. Dust and air dry clay particles do not get trapped. 🚿
Water Resistance
PVC mat does not absorb moisture. Therefore, your wet air dry clay does not dry when kneading and rolling over the PVC mat.
Protect your table: Wet air dry clay, glue, water, acrylic paint, and sealers don’t sneak through PVC mat to damage your tabletop. PVC mat is a reliable barrier between clay and tabletop. 🛡️
Self-healing ability
PVC mat contains 5-layer PVC material. According to its specifications, the white hardness PVC in the middle helps to prevent cutting through.
Therefore, no scratch marks will be visible, which can happen when you’re cutting air dry clay slabs. But if the scratch mark is too deep, it won’t heal itself. It’s time to move into a new mat because air dry clay from your next project may get trapped inside the scratch hole.
Now you know why I went with PVC mat, which is a good option for air dry clay artists.
Best surface for air dry clay
PVC mat, silicone mat, flexible plastic cutting mat and parchment paper are the best surface for air dry clay.
They do not stick to the clay while you’re working on it. Kneading and rolling are easy on them.
Now let me compare each of them and tell you why I went with PVC mat.
Why I chose PVC over silicone mat
Please don’t laugh at me. 😂I went for PVC mat instead of a silicone mat because I found the PVC mat first. If I was able to find a silicone one, I may have selected it.
I think silicone mat is better than PVC mat when working with air dry clay because my PVC mat slides around smooth tabletops. It does not create a strong grip with the tabletop.
When I was rolling the clay, I mostly have to use one hand to keep the PVC mat steady.
But when it comes to a silicone mat, it grips tables well, so the mat doesn’t slide around while you knead the air dry clay.
Therefore, go for a silicone mat if you can. Otherwise PVC mat is totally fine.
Why I chose PVC over canvas fabric
PVC mats have a smooth surface with no texture on it. Therefore, it provides a smooth and clean finish. But canvas fabric has texture, and it can easily be pasted onto the wet air dry clay slab when rolling.
Does air dry clay stick to a PVC mat?
Air dry clay does not stick to a PVC mat, but not 100 percent because there will be a white cloud-like dust over the PVC mat when working with air dry clay. This means there is a slight grip.
If you want to deep dive into release agents you can use over PVC mat, what techniques you need to follow to avoid air dry clay from sticking, read How to Keep Air Dry Clay from Sticking to Your Table.
How I clean my PVC mat after using
- First, wipe down wet clay on the PVC mat using paper towel or a microfiber cloth.
- Next, wash the PVC mat in the sink with dish soap.
- Use a non-abrasive sponge to remove stuck air dry clay pieces on the surface. 🧽
- Let it air dry for a few hours ⏳
Simple as that!
Don’t use harsh chemicals for cleaning PVC mat because the surface can be damaged. Stuck air dry clay, acrylic paint, and sealers all can get removed by washing it in the sink with dish soap. ⚠️
Final thoughts
Honestly, if possible, go for a silicone mat over a PVC mat to work with air dry clay because it got the grip that sticks with the table so well which is important when rolling. Otherwise PVC mat is what’s best for you.
Follow the correct rolling and kneading process to avoid clay from sticking to the surface. Make sure to clean your mat well before and after your project because dust is your worst enemy.
