Dishwasher Safe Cricut Projects

You’ve worked hard on a special Cricut craft and now you want to know how to make it safe to put in the dishwasher? We’ve got you covered. In this tutorial, we will show you how to make dishwasher safe Cricut projects. Don’t let all your hard work designing and creating an amazing Cricut craft go to waste. Cricut beginners and seasoned pros alike, this is must-have information to keep in your back pocket for when you need it.

We’ll be honest. We rarely ever seal our Cricut projects. For the most part, we just don’t find it necessary and prefer to leave the design uncovered. But, there may be times when you really want to add a sealant to your craft project and that’s why we are going over the best kind to use to make it safe for the dishwasher.

Dishwasher Safe Cricut Projects

Let’s start by talking about WHY we don’t usually want to use a sealant. When you apply this Mod Podge to your project, it will likely leave brush strokes. If you use it on a clear glass mug or plate, it will probably make the image cloudy. That’s why we are not huge fans of this.

We find that if you use really good, high-quality vinyl, you get great results and truly don’t need to seal it. Our rule of thumb here is that if something is handmade, it should be hand-washed so that the design is long-lasting and the item maintains its quality. However, you may want the convenience of using your dishwasher, and if that’s the case, you’ll need to use Dishwasher-Safe Mod Podge.

Pro Tip: High-quality vinyl that we like and use regularly at Makers Gonna Learn – Starcraft, Oracal 651, and TeckWrap just to name a few.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Cut Files/Fonts Used: What Would Dolly Do? – https://makersgonnalearn.com/cut_files/what-would-dolly-do/

Dishwasher Safe Mod podge – https://amzn.to/3Z9JFeS

Coffee Mug – https://www.dollartree.com/royal-norfolk-contemporary-white-square-stoneware-mugs-12oz/18235

STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL:

1 – The first thing you need to know about using Dishwasher-Safe Mod Podge is that it will dry in just a few hours BUT that doesn’t mean that it is ready to use at that point. The full cure time for it is 28 days. It should not go into the dishwasher until after those 28 days have passed. This is key to getting the best results from this product.

2 – To get the fewest brushstrokes and marks on our design possible, we prefer to apply the Mod Podge with our fingers. It is a non-toxic product and safe to touch, but once finished, we do like to wash our hands right away. If you don’t want to touch it with your fingers, you can apply it with a foam brush, but remember that you will get brushstrokes this way.

Important: Before you apply vinyl to a non-porous surface like glass or ceramic, clean it well with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel to remove all dust, debris, and fingerprints that might interfere with proper application of the vinyl.

3 – Remove the backing from your vinyl design. Apply to your mug.

Pro Tip: When applying vinyl to a curved surface, we find it helpful to snip slits into the transfer tape. Be sure not to cut into the design. This allows you to get it nice and flat on the surface of the mug.

4 – Burnish well. We find it helpful to use our fingers to press it well onto the mug.

5 – Peel away the transfer tape carefully.

6 – Using your finger, dab the Mod Podge over the vinyl design. As you apply it, it may change the texture and appearance of the vinyl, so be aware of that. Apply a thin coat. Let it dry for a little while until it’s just a bit tacky.

Pro Tip: Once partially dry, we used the heel of our hand to tap over the design. This helps remove some of the finger strokes. Using a paper towel, we also removed any excess Mod Podge from around the design. Don’t touch the Mod Podge on the vinyl itself, but any that is on the mug around the vinyl.

7 – Wait 1-2 hours. Apply another coat of Mod Podge. In all, you want to apply 2-3 more coats to your mug, drying in between. Be sure to repeat the process of tapping over the vinyl and removing excess Mod Podge from around the design with each application.

REMINDER: Once you put on the last coat, put the mug aside and let it cure for 28 days.