I Finally Cleaned My Filthy Mousepad—It Was Worse Than I Imagined

If you happen to’re a gamer or do business from home, your mousepad might be the dirtiest a part of your setup—and also you won’t even understand it. I do know I didn’t, and once I cleaned mine, I used to be shocked by how a lot grime got here out of a pad I would solely been utilizing for six months.

Your Mousepad Is Dirtier Than You Suppose

Whether or not you have got a mousepad that is solely on your mouse, or an XXL mousepad like mine that covers half your desk, your mousepad is a breeding floor for micro organism.

On a regular basis deposits out of your arms, like your pores and skin’s pure oil, sweat, lifeless pores and skin, and hand cream, along with mud and meals particles, all find yourself in your mousepad as you employ it. And as you rub your arms in opposition to the mousepad whenever you change hand placement or use the mouse, that buildup will get pushed deep inside the material (sorry for the graphic description, however I have to get my level throughout).

Credit score: Michael Crider / How-To Geek

As you proceed utilizing your mousepad, filth and dirt construct up contained in the tightly woven cloth, so it will get soiled shockingly shortly. Even in case you completely wash your arms earlier than utilizing your pc (one thing I strongly suggest doing), your pores and skin nonetheless releases sweat, oils, and lifeless pores and skin cells, so your mousepad will inevitably get soiled.

Earlier than you understand it, your mousepad is full of tiny particles. And on high of being disgusting and unpleasant, these particles can really create sufficient traction to harm your mouse’s gliding efficiency, which is not ideally suited in case you’re a hardcore gamer who chases ultralight gaming mice, fast-performance mousepads, and aftermarket mouse skates.

Cleansing My Mousepad Solely Took a Couple of Minutes

After I lastly determined to clean my material mousepad, I used to be stunned by how fast and easy the entire course of was. It took me possibly 3–4 minutes from begin to end, and it is undoubtedly one thing I will do extra usually going ahead.

You probably have a tough plastic or glass mousepad, you don’t even want to clean it, a minimum of not the identical approach as a material pad. You may merely wipe it down with glass cleaner and a microfiber material. If it’s significantly soiled or sticky, a small quantity of delicate cleaning soap (like hand or dish cleaning soap) and a comfortable sponge or material will take away the grime with minimal effort.

For material mousepads, take the pad exterior or place it in your bathe or bathtub. Moist it with lukewarm water. Keep away from scorching water, as it may harm the rubber base and material floor. Chilly water is not nice, both, as a result of it doesn’t clear as successfully. Additionally, do not soak it for too lengthy. Don’t soak it for too lengthy; you simply need it damp sufficient to carry the filth.

If the mousepad could be very soiled, apply a small quantity of delicate cleaning soap; in any other case, it’s greatest to skip the cleaning soap at any time when doable. An important step is scrubbing. You need to use a sponge or microfiber material, however a comfortable brush does a greater job of loosening deep filth.

Credit score: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

Use the softest brush you’ll find—I used a painter’s brush, and it left my high-end mousepad’s floor intact. Even a soft-bristle toothbrush will be too harsh, so keep away from it in case your mousepad is delicate.

Focus scrubbing on the dirtiest areas, which is usually the underside center and proper part if it is an XL pad. Rinse completely to take away all cleaning soap from the woven cloth.

Credit score: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

Air dry the mousepad, however don’t go away it in direct daylight, as UV radiation may cause the colour to fade. Air drying normally takes 4–5 hours, so it’s greatest to wash it earlier than you propose to make use of it once more or go away it in a single day.

Whereas it is likely to be tempting to make use of rubbing alcohol to disinfect the mousepad, I strongly suggest avoiding it. Alcohol can fade or harm each the fabric and rubber base, and it could strip coatings like hydrophobic or pace finishes.

You Have to Clear Your Mousepad Recurrently

I acquired my SteelSeries QcK XL Performance Speed mousepad round half a yr in the past, so I actually thought that it would not be all that soiled. That is why I used to be shocked to see brown, soiled water once I rinsed it.

Model

SteelSeries

Materials

Polycarbonate

The SteelSeries QcK XL Efficiency Velocity is a big, high-performance mousepad optimized for max gliding pace. The three.5 mm-thick neoprene rubber base ensures the mousepad by no means slides round in your desk, whereas the low-profile edge stitching protects the mousepad from fraying with out digging into your wrists.

I at all times wash my arms earlier than utilizing my pc, however I do use hand lotions ceaselessly, that are fairly sticky and have seemingly accelerated the filth buildup. Nonetheless, utilizing a mousepad for a lot of hours on daily basis will naturally trigger this.

If you happen to sport loads or work out of your desktop PC, you must most likely wash it as soon as a month or a minimum of each different month. After all, the much less you employ your mousepad, the much less cleansing it requires. If you happen to solely play video games for a few hours each night, you may most likely get away with washing it as soon as each three or 4 months. For individuals who solely sport on weekends, twice a yr could also be sufficient.

Credit score: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek

How usually you clear it’s as much as you, in fact, however I strongly encourage common upkeep. Your desk is an area you spend many hours at, so protecting it clear is worth it.

If you wish to scale back the frequency of full washes, contemplate spot cleansing. Use a humid microfiber material to wipe it down as soon as per week, specializing in the soiled areas. This removes an excellent portion of floor mud and dirt, prolonging the time between washes whereas sustaining desk hygiene and glide efficiency.

Finally, cleansing your mousepad solely takes a couple of minutes, and it doesn’t must be tough. The payoff is large: now that my black mousepad is squeaky clear, it not has these hideous white spots the place I relaxation my wrists and palms. That’s why I’ll be washing my mousepad on a month-to-month foundation any more.