Abstract: A mat on which to place items sought to be dried or maintained dry, comprising a bottom surface and an upper surface, the upper surface being interspersed with transversely and vertically-networked first voids having a size and configuration that permits horizontal and vertical air flow adjacent to an item placed on the upper surface, the mat also including second voids that permit vertical passage of liquid from the upper surface to the bottom surface. In a first embodiment, the mat includes a liquid-absorbing bottom layer at its bottom surface; in a second embodiment, the mat has a deformable upper surface.