Keeping your equipment on a regular cleaning schedule is a good habit to get into. You may regularly wipe down your desk, computer monitor, and keyboard, but often the mousepad is overlooked. You may not even know how to properly clean a mousepad.
Mousepads get dirty over time, whether from eating munchies during gaming, or just regular use. Keeping it in good condition is an important part of having a properly working mouse. A little grime can really affect your precision. Here are the steps needed to properly clean your mousepad.
1) Determine What Your Mousepad is Made From
Every mousepad is a little bit different. How you wash it will depend on what it is made from. If it is a hard plastic mousepad, it will only require a quick wipe down with a damp cloth and a mild detergent. If it is made from neoprene, fabric, or some kind of rubber, follow the steps below.
2) Fill a Bowl with Soap and Hot Water
Get a bowl and fill it up with hot water in you kitchen sink. Add a little bit of mild hand soap or dish soap and mix it with the water. Alternatively you may just fill up your kitchen sink with water and use that instead of a bowl.
3) Place the Mousepad in the Bowl
After mixing your soap and hot water place the mousepad into the bowl (or sink) until it is entirely underwater. Let the mousepad sit for several minutes so that the grime that has been absorbed in the mousepad has time to dissolve.
4) Gently Rub the Mousepad
Place your hands into the bowl or sink and gently rub your mousepad. This will help any remaining dirty, grease, or grime get cleared away.
5) Rinse the Mousepad
Take the mousepad out of the bowl (or sink) and rinse it under warm water until you rinse out all the soap.
6) Dry the Mousepad
It would be best to allow your mousepad to dry by air. Alternatively if you need to use it in a hurry you may use a hair dryer on a low setting. Be cautious because too much heat could damage your mousepad.
In summary washing your mousepad is actually a really simple process once you get started. Remember, if it’s hard plastic, it just needs a good wipe down. Otherwise you are going to soak the mousepad in a soap and water solution, gently massage it until it’s clean, and then dry it. We hope you found this useful! Remember to wash regularly for best results.
