Abstract: A cleaning fluid is used in a method for cleaning the white undersurface of a flexible or partly flexible mat cover of a photocopy machine. The cleaning fluid is essentially 1,1,1, trichloroethane to which a small amount of linseed oil is added to prevent evaporation and to provide a very thin coating of antistatic film to the cleaned surface of the mat. To this chemical cleaning agent a small amount of perfume or scent and a coloring agent are preferably added to make the chemical more appealing to the casual user. The mat is cleaned by scrubbing it with a coarse-faced pad or sponge impregnated with the cleaning fluid to remove accumulated dirt, oil, carbon inks and the like from the white undersurface.