Start with the features that shape your care routine
The Cold Embrace mat is built for futuristic combat games like X-wing, Attack Wing and Rogue Trader. Its care needs follow from three confirmed traits: it is wet-erase compatible and waterproof, it has a slight texture that keeps models from sliding, and it is an anti-curl mat that lays flat and rolls up for storage. Those same traits tell you what to do after a game: wipe it down, let it dry, and roll it rather than folding it.
Because the mat is printed on heavy-weight matte banner material and cut to exact dimensions, treat it as a durable surface rather than a delicate cloth. The catalog also states the mats will not stretch or shrink over time, so you do not need to baby it — but you do need to avoid creasing it when you put it away.
A simple post-game cleaning routine
These steps use only the care facts confirmed for this mat. Skip any step that does not apply to your table.
- Clear the table: Remove miniatures, dice, tokens and terrain. The mat's texture helps keep models in place, but small pieces can still trap grit against the surface.
- Wipe with a damp cloth: The mat is wet-erase compatible and waterproof, so a damp cloth is the supported way to clean it. Wipe gently across the printed design rather than scrubbing one spot.
- Spot-clean marks: For marks left by wet-erase pens or spills, use the same damp-cloth approach. The catalog does not list specific cleaners, so avoid guessing at solvents and stick to water on a cloth.
- Let it air-dry flat: Lay the mat flat or hang it briefly so both sides dry before rolling. The anti-curl design is meant to lay flat when you need it, and storing it damp works against that.
What the Cold Embrace mat confirms about cleaning
- Mats by Mars: Cold Embrace Tabletop Wargaming Space Play Mat: A wet-erase compatible, easy to clean, waterproof mat. This is the basis for using a damp cloth and for not worrying about a spilled drink at the table.
Mats by Mars: Cold Embrace Tabletop Wargaming Space Play Mat - Mats by Mars: Cold Embrace Tabletop Wargaming Space Play Mat: Each mat features a slight texture that keeps models from unwanted sliding. The texture is useful during play, but it also means you should wipe along the surface rather than grind dirt into it.
- Mats by Mars: Cold Embrace Tabletop Wargaming Space Play Mat: An anti-curl mat that lays flat when you need it, and rolls up for easy storage when you don’t. Rolling, not folding, is the storage method the product is designed around.
Roll it, don’t fold it
The Cold Embrace mat is designed to roll up for storage. Folding creates hard creases that fight the anti-curl design, so roll the mat loosely with the printed side facing outward. If your mat came with a tube or strap, use it; otherwise a clean cardboard tube works as a core.
Store the rolled mat somewhere dry and out of direct sun. The catalog does not specify a temperature range or humidity limit, so common-sense indoor storage is the safe choice. Because the material is waterproof and will not stretch or shrink, a normal closet or shelf is fine.
Match the size and overlay to how you store and play
Cold Embrace comes in several size and overlay combinations. Storage space and table size should guide your pick as much as the game you play.
- 24" x 24": Available with Blank, RPG Grid, 1" Hex, 3" Grid or Bushido overlay. The smallest footprint and the easiest to roll and tuck away.
- 22" x 30": Available with Blank or RPG Grid overlay. A middle size for smaller tables or role-playing sessions.
- 24" x 36": Available with Blank, RPG Grid, 1" Hex or 3" Hex overlay. More room for miniatures games while still rolling into a compact bundle.
- 30" x 30": Available with Blank overlay. A square format that suits skirmish setups.
What the catalog does not confirm
The supplied product information does not list a specific cleaning solution, drying time, ironing instruction or long-term storage temperature. It also does not confirm whether the mat can be machine-washed. Treat those as unknowns and rely on the confirmed wet-erase and waterproof properties instead of inventing a harsher routine.
If you are choosing between overlays, note that the catalog lists the available combinations but does not describe how each grid is printed. Pick the overlay that matches your game’s measurement system, and keep the care routine the same regardless of which version you buy.
