Dice Tray Care: How to Clean Silicone and Leather Trays
By Norse Foundry | Premium RPG Dice Sets | DND Dice | 100 | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Tips en onderhoud
Learn how to clean a dice tray without warping silicone or drying out leather, plus storage habits that stop cracks, rust, and magnet damage.
Quick answer
Clean a dice tray with the mildest method that removes the mess: wipe silicone with warm water and a drop of dish soap, and treat leather with a barely damp cloth followed by a dry buff. Never soak, machine wash, or heat-dry either material, because water and heat are what warp silicone and crack leather. Store the tray flat or folded as designed, away from direct sun and heavy metal dice.
Match the cleaning method to the tray material
Silicone and leather fail for opposite reasons, so one cleaning routine cannot serve both. Silicone is non-porous and tolerates water, but it warps when heated and can hold onto oily residue from snacks or hand lotion. Leather is porous and tolerates a dry wipe, but repeated moisture strips the oils that keep it supple, which is how surface cracks begin. Before you clean, identify the material and check whether the tray has a magnetic closure, since magnets add a second care rule: keep them away from heat and from other strong magnets that can weaken or misalign the closure over time.
Routine care between deep cleans
Most dice trays only need a quick reset after a session. Tip out debris, wipe the rolling surface with a dry microfiber cloth, and let the tray air for a few minutes before folding or stacking it. If you eat at the table, keep greasy snacks away from the tray, because oil transfers to dice and then to the tray surface. For metal dice, roll on a lined tray rather than directly on a bare table, since the weight and sharp edges of aluminum or steel dice can scuff wood and dig into soft leather.
Humidity matters more than most players expect. Leather left in a damp bag or a cold garage can stiffen and grow surface mold, while silicone stored in a hot car can take a permanent bend. A closet shelf at room temperature is the safest home for both.
What not to use on any dice tray
Skip alcohol, acetone, bleach, and abrasive scrubbing pads on both materials. Alcohol dries leather and can dull or cloud some silicone finishes, while abrasives scratch the rolling surface and create texture that catches chalk and grime. Avoid the dishwasher and washing machine entirely, and never put a tray in a dryer or on a radiator to speed things up. If a stain will not lift with the mild method for its material, stop rather than escalate to a harsher chemical.
Step-by-step dice tray cleaning routine
- Empty and dry-brush the tray: Tip out dice, crumbs, and pencil shavings, then brush the corners with a soft dry brush or dry microfiber cloth. Common mistake: shaking the tray hard to empty it, which stresses folding hinges and can bend a magnetic frame. Checkpoint: the tray should be free of loose grit before any liquid touches it.
- Wipe silicone with mild soap and warm water: Dampen a microfiber cloth with warm water and one drop of mild dish soap, wring it nearly dry, and wipe the rolling surface in one direction. Rinse the cloth and wipe again with plain water, then dry immediately with a towel. Common mistake: soaking the tray or leaving it wet, which can leave water spots and soften a folding seam. Checkpoint: no soap film remains and the surface is dry to the touch.
- Clean leather with a barely damp cloth only: Wipe leather with a cloth dampened with water and wrung out until it is almost dry, then buff with a dry cloth. For deeper grime, use a leather-safe cleaner sparingly and follow it with a conditioner made for leather. Common mistake: saturating the leather or scrubbing a stain, which lifts the finish and starts cracks. Checkpoint: the leather darkens slightly while damp and returns to its normal tone as it dries.
- Air-dry flat, away from heat: Lay the tray open and flat in a shaded, room-temperature spot until fully dry. Keep it off radiators, out of direct sun, and away from hair dryers. Common mistake: drying a folded tray while closed, which traps moisture in the fold and can set a crease. Checkpoint: the fold line and magnets are completely dry before storage.
- Store flat or lightly folded with magnets clear: Store the tray flat or at its natural fold, and keep it away from other strong magnets, keys, and metal dice that can cling to the closure. Common mistake: stacking heavy rulebooks on a folded tray, which flattens the padding and misaligns magnets. Next step: if the magnets no longer snap shut, the tray has been stored under pressure or exposed to heat.
- Do a monthly condition check: Once a month, flex the fold gently, press the magnets together, and look for cracks, stiff leather, or a warped silicone edge. Address small issues early with the mild cleaning method rather than waiting. Common mistake: ignoring a stiff leather panel until it cracks at the fold. Checkpoint: a healthy tray folds smoothly, closes with a firm snap, and lies flat when open.
Product facts that affect tray care
- Tray of Folding™ Magnetic - Green: Tray of Folding Magnetic - Green is described as perfect for protecting your game table while rolling the strength of mighty metal dice. A folding magnetic design means the fold line and magnets are the parts most likely to wear, so wipe along the hinge gently, keep magnets away from heat, and store the tray flat or lightly folded rather than crushed under books.
- Single Wondrous Dice® D20 in Barbarians Rage by Norse Foundry 6063 Aircraft Grade Aluminum: Single Wondrous Dice D20 in Barbarians Rage is approximately 20mm and made of 6063 Aircraft Grade Aluminum. A metal D20 of this size lands hard, so roll it in a tray with a soft or lined surface and check the tray surface for dents; a dented rolling area is a sign to replace the tray or add a liner rather than scrub harder.
