Ensuring your PC setup is not only tidy but also clean too (check out our piece on computer hygiened) should be up there in terms of priorities, prohibiting any dust or dirt getting into your hardware and ultimately, keeping them working for longer. This can also be applied to something like your mouse pad as it’s certainly susceptible to attracting grime that can collate, hindering your mouse movements. so her we look at how to clean a mouse pad – regardless of type.
In this article we’re going to go through the necessary steps you’ll need to take for how to clean a mouse pad whether that’s a regular variant or one that’s electronically enabled, potentially having some RGB lighting that you certainly don’t want to damage. We’re also going to run through the tools/equipment you’ll need to get your cleaning job done so you’re prepared before you even get into the process.
What you’ll need
Like most things, you can get away with cleaning a regular mouse pad with some regular soapy water and a cloth/sponge so, you’ll need to make sure you have those in your cupboards. We’d recommend either washing detergent or washing up liquid as your soap of choice and stick to a regular sponge or a brush to bring out those tough grime spots.
If you want to clean a hard or RGB mouse pad, you’re going to need a different setup. A microfiber cloth is your weapon of choice here due to its less abrasive nature but again, soapy water is the substance you can use to soak it in to do a proper cleaning job. If you feel like soapy water is a bit too much of a risk, opting for something like rubbing alcohol could be a good choice due to its fast-drying properties.
To ensure your mouse pad is completely dry, you’re going to be using a combination of towel drying and air drying so ensure you have a large towel handy, enough to wrap your mouse pad in it so you can squeeze all of the water out.
How to clean a mouse pad
So, you’ve got all your necessary equipment you need to clean your mousepad successfully, now it’s time to go through the steps. We’re going to detail what you’ll need to do for different mouse pad variants including cloth, hard, and RGB so you can get them looking brand new without damaging them.
Step
How to clean a cloth mouse pad
A cloth mousepad is the simplest to clean thanks to its flexibility and lack of any internal electronics. But, you’ll still need to follow a few steps to get it right. Here’s what you need to do:
- Place your mousepad in a bathtub or sink
- Apply your soap of choice
- Run warm water onto the mouse pad
- Rub the mousepad relatively gently in a circular motion with your sponge/brush to bring out the dirt
- Rinse the front and back of the mouse pad thoroughly with warm water
- Put your mouse pad in a towel and press to release excess water
- Let your mouse pad air dry until it’s back to a completely dry state.
Your cloth mouse pad should be looking nice a fresh now but if not, simply repeat the process until you’re happy with the outcome.
Step
How to clean a hard mouse pad
A hard mouse pad is quite clearly different from a cloth one because it is so rigid, making it a little tougher to clean. However, the process is almost the same but lacking in the complete soaking of your pad.
- Get your microfibre cloth and either use the soapy warm water approach and ring it out, or apply some rubbing alcohol to it
- Rub the mousepad relatively gently in a circular motion with your cloth to bring out the dirt
- Wipe down with a damp cloth
- Leave your hard mouse pad to air dry until it’s in a useable state
Your hard mouse pad should be looking nice a fresh now but if not, simply repeat the process until you’re happy with the outcome.
Step
How to clean an RGB mousepad
An RGB mouse pad is a completely different beast than a cloth or hard variant due to the fact that you’ll need to be extra careful thanks to the internal electronics. This means you won’t be soaking it in warm soapy water and rather a more cautious approach to cleaning.
- First, get your microfibre cloth. Either soak the cloth in soapy water and ring out well or apply some rubbing alcohol to it depending on your preference
- Rub the mousepad relatively gently in a circular motion with your microfibre cloth to bring out the dirt. Be careful not to go near the electronic box usually situated in the top corner
- Now, if you used soapy water, rinse your cloth thoroughly to get rid of any soap and ring out again to leave you with a soap-free but damp cloth
- Gently wipe the surface of your mouse pad again to remove any soapy residue
- Leave your mouse pad out to air dry until it’s in a useable state again
Your RGB mouse pad should be looking nice a fresh now but if not, simply repeat the process until you’re happy with the outcome.
There we have it, no matter what mouse pad you have, you should now know how to clean it well and in a safe manner!
