How To Clean A Mousepad

A mousepad proves to be so helpful, and not only for gamers. It allows for your mouse to glide smoothly, allowing you to make clicks wherever you want. But, let’s not forget that it gets quite dirty and yucky. After a long period of use, the mouse pad will get dirty. It gets exposed to dust and can gather quite of dirt in the long run. Also, the material itself might absorb some of your sweat and skin oil. And we should not forget about the fact that you also eat in front of the computer, so unwanted residues of food might get there as well. You certainly don’t want your hand lying on a dirty and full-of-bacteria pad. Many would forget about the fact that they need to clean their mousepad once in a while, in order to get rid of the accumulated dirt.

When we are speaking of cleaning a mouse pad, this is something that you should do often. However, it mostly depends on whether you use it frequently or not. A few times a year would be enough. Mousepads are mostly made of a spongy material, which is not so difficult to be cleaned. It is similar to any household sponge but denser, which means that the drying process will be longer. If you have decided to give yours a thorough cleaning, then the following methods will help you!

How to clean your mousepad with dish soap

This is the simplest option that works for anyone. Everyone has dish soap available in their homes, so you can do this right now. All you have to do is follow these simple steps!

1. Use your sink to do this task. Fill it with warm water, but make sure that it is not hot. Otherwise, it would not be pleasant since you will wash it with your hands.
2. Add some dish soap and dissolve it in the water. The dish soap will do the job perfectly, as it is meant to remove grease from your dishes.
3. Use a sponge to clean the surface. Using gentle strokes, give it a thorough cleaning to make sure that the dirt is removed. Use a soft sponge, so that you are sure that it will not cause any damage to the material. Some mousepads might be produced of lighter and more delicate materials, so it is always better to be safe than sorry. If there are heavier stains, do spot cleaning there and keep rubbing.
4. After you are done, give it a good rinse. Place your mouse pad under running water and squeeze. Repeat until you see no soap coming from the inside when you do the squeezing.
5. When you have removed all of the soap residues, it is time for your mouse pad to dry. Start with patting, so that you will remove the excess water. Use a soft cloth to do this to avoid damage. Once you have patted dry, leave it to air dry. Make sure that it dries on a well-ventilated spot, so the moisture will evaporate completely. If it doesn’t, it is very likely that mold will start to develop and leave your pad with a not-so-pleasant smell.

How to clean your mousepad in the washing machine

Some will proceed to wash their mouse pads in the washing machine. When you can wash your clothes, why not your pad as well? However, take this with caution as some materials are not suitable for the washing machine. Make sure that you check with the manufacturer’s instructions so that you will find out if this is the proper way to clean it.

1. Place the pad inside.
2. Add some of your regular detergents. This will remove the dirt and dust particles completely.
3. Which settings should be picked? Do not use hot temperature. Pick cold to make sure that the material stays in its shape. Also, do not forget to press the low tumble button.
4. Once it is done, place it for drying. Before you put it to use, make sure that it is completely dry. Sometimes, you can get tricked just by touching the surface and seeing that it is dry. Be aware that the inside part can be still moist. And you would not want this, as the spongy foam might develop mold. Or even worse, it can damage your mouse. It should be completely dry 36 hours after the washing.

How to clean a mousepad with a hard surface

Not all of the mouse pads will be made of a spongy-like material only. If you prefer the hard-surface ones, then you can still give them classic cleaning. Whether it is rubber or plastic, make sure that you follow these instructions!

Use a gentle all-purpose household cleaning product for this. If your mouse has a hard-surface on top, then using less moisture is crucial. Excess water can dissolve the glue that connects the base and top, making them both detach. This will leave you with a useless mouse pad. Spray the pad with your cleaning product. Then, clean the surface using gentle strokes with a soft cloth. The leftover dirt will remain on the cloth, leaving you with a pretty clean pad.

When you have already cleaned the surface, it is time to rinse. Do this using a damp cloth, just make sure that it is not dripping wet. Dip your cloth in clean water and squeeze it to remove the excess. Wipe the surface with it gently. This will remove any unwanted dirt leftovers. Damp the cloth again and repeat the process until the surface is perfectly clean.

When you are done with the cleaning, it is time for drying. You should pat dry with a dry towel, to make sure that the excess water goes away. After you are done, leave it for air drying in a well-ventilated spot. This will allow for the moisture to evaporate completely, leaving you with a perfectly clean pad. The process takes nothing more than a few hours, so this method is the most convenient one. You can use it with any type of mouse pad if you are in a hurry and need quick results.