Introduction
Mousepads, like your keyboard and mouse, are high-traffic surfaces that become filthy and need to be cleaned. A filthy mousepad not only looks bad, but it may also interfere with tracking and make your motions less precise. Here’s how to do it.
Cleaning a Rubber and Plastic Mousepad
Cleaning a basic rubber or plastic covered mousepad is surprisingly simple. Most of the time, a moist cloth will be adequate to remove any filth and oil, but if necessary, a tiny bit of dish soap may be used to assist things along.
After that, dry the area with a clean, soft towel and resume playing. If your mousepad has a fabric backing, you should probably air dry it for a few hours. Most non-porous mousepads, on the other hand, should be ready to use practically immediately.
How to Clean a Cloth or Fabric Mousepad
Fabric and fabric mousepads are often preferred for their better feel, although they might be more difficult to clean. This is due to the fact that oil and grime may get trapped in the fabric, making it more difficult to remove than non-porous surfaces.
To begin, fill a sink or container halfway with warm water and thoroughly immerse your mouse pad. When the mousepad is moist, add a tiny quantity of dish soap to the surface. Dish soap is fantastic because it can cut through the kind of oil that accumulates without hurting it as stronger cleaning agents do.
Scrub the surface with a gentle cleaning brush, pushing the soap into the fabric and dislodging any trapped oil and debris. If you have a stained area, you may need to repeat this process many times.
Rinse the mousepad in water to remove the soap from the cloth. If you used too much soap, you may need to replace the water and repeat the process. After cleaning your mousepad, give it a thorough shake and wipe it dry with a dry towel to make it as dry as possible.
Allow the mousepad to air dry until totally dry. For optimal results, place it on a level surface and avoid pegging the mousepad in such a manner that it deforms after drying. It may take a day or two for the paint to fully dry before it can be used again.
How to Clean a Wired/RGB Powered Mousepad
Some mousepads have RGB illumination, while others provide wireless power to devices such as mice. You must use caution while cleaning them to avoid damaging the electrical components inside. Unlike a cloth pad, this sort of mousepad should not be submerged.
Unplug the mousepad first, then soak a soft (preferably microfiber) towel in warm water. Apply a tiny quantity of dish soap on the cloth, then squeeze out as much extra water as possible to prevent soaking your mousepad.
Scrub the pad’s surface with the towel to remove as much debris and oil as possible. Repeat this procedure until your mousepad seems clean again, being careful not to dribble extra water onto the pad. After that, thoroughly rinse the cloth and use it to wipe the soap from the surface of your mouse pad.
Allow your mousepad to dry in a manner that avoids moisture from leaking onto the electronics. For example, SteelSeries suggests positioning your mousepad “right side up” in the case of the QcK Prism, so use your best judgment for your particular model.
Is it possible to wash a mousepad in the washing machine
Some cloth mousepads may withstand a spin in the washing machine just fine, but it may be better to hand wash as directed above.
Glorious provides guidelines for cleaning its mousepads in a washing machine, which include using dish soap instead of laundry detergent, running a cold cycle, avoiding a hard spin cycle, and air-drying (rather than tumble drying) for about a day.
