We have all experienced this struggle: after using your mousepad for a while at your workstation or gaming setup, it has developed dust, filth, and stains as a result of the abuse you have given it. Although you might be tempted, most manufacturers advise against cleaning it because it can harm the fabric and shorten its lifespan.

What is the best approach to maintaining a tidy desk and a mouse that is easy to use? Various options are available, depending on the circumstances. Continue reading to learn how to wash a mouse pad!

Table of Contents

Mousepad Types

Unfortunately, cleaning a mouse pad requires more effort than just tossing it in the washing machine and walking away.

There isn’t a single method that can be used to clean all mouse pads due to the wide variety of available styles. To effectively clean each without harming the material, a different strategy must be used.

If you play competitive first-person shooter games, you should exercise caution here. Your ability to play high-skill games like CS: GO, Valiant, and Overwatch may suffer if your mouse pad surface isn’t uniform and clean.

How to Wash a Mousepad (Fabric Mousepad)

All types of soft mousepads can be hand-washed to get stains out. (Keep in mind that you shouldn’t use a tech mousepad for this as you risk damaging the electrical components.)

You will require

Warming water
Mild shampoo or soap.
Tidy sponge
Brush with soft bristles.
Towel.

The Following Steps

Place the mousepad in warm water in a sink, tub, or other containers.
Apply some shampoo or dish soap on the mousepad and scrape it with the sponge. As an alternative, first, moisten the sponge with soap before scrubbing.
To remove any more challenging stains or oils, use a brush. (A hard-bristle brush or wire sponge should not be used for this since you risk damaging the mousepad.)
Once you’re done cleaning, thoroughly rinse the mousepad to remove any soap residue.
Ideally, leave the mousepad on a towel with the cloth side down overnight to dry. To assist drain extra moisture, put it close to a fan.

Although most manufacturers don’t advise them because they can reduce the lifespan of your mouse pad, you can use sprays, wipes, and other cleaning supplies to disinfect surfaces. If so, make sure to thoroughly read the labels before using them.

How to Wash a Mousepad (Hard Mousepad)

Compared to soft mousepads, hard mousepads with less porous surfaces are a little easier to clean because you can just wipe them down without worrying about scratching the surface.

You will require

Microfiber fabric
Rub alcohol or screen cleaner
Sanitizing wipes (optional)

The Following Steps

Unplug your mousepad from the wall if it has USB ports before cleaning.

Spray screen cleaning onto the mousepad or a piece of microfiber cloth. A corner of the cleaning cloth can also be dipped in rubbing alcohol, but before washing, be careful to wring it out.
Concentrate on cleaning off any apparent dirt or grime from the mousepad’s surface as you wipe the surface clean.
If you want to be certain that all the germs are eliminated, use a disinfectant wipe after.
Allow the mouse pad to completely air dry after wiping away any additional moisture with a dry cloth.

How to Wash a Mousepad (RGB Mousepad)

Cleaning a wired RGB mousepad is a little bit different. Here, you need to use a little extra caution to prevent harm to the electrical parts.

You will require

Shampoo or dish soap
Microfiber cloth
Towel

The Following Steps

Unplug the mousepad and relocate it away from other electronic devices before cleaning.
On the corner of a microfiber cloth, dab a tiny bit of dish soap or shampoo before dipping it in warm water.
To stop water from entering any ports, carefully squeeze and wring out the fabric.
Use the cloth to thoroughly clean every area of the mousepad’s surface.
To get the soap off the microfiber cloth, rinse it.
Now clean the mouse pad of any residual soap with the damp towel.
Once thoroughly cleaned, place the mousepad face down on a towel to dry.

How to Wash a Mousepad (Plastic Mousepad)

You’re in luck if the mousepad you’re using is plastic. These are a lot simpler to clean. Simply use a soft cloth to clean the mousepad’s surface. If the finish of your mouse pad is something you’re really concerned about, choosing a microfiber cloth will reduce the possibility of scratches occurring when cleaning.

You can use a small amount of rubbing alcohol to help lift the stain if it is particularly difficult to remove. A paper towel can then be used to absorb any remaining liquid or surplus water. If your mouse pad has RGB lighting, make sure to disconnect it before you start this step to prevent damaging the illumination on your wonderful, just-cleaned mouse pad.

How to Wash a Mousepad in a Washing Machine?

Although manufacturers advise against using a washing machine to clean a soft or fabric mousepad, if yours is made from any of the following materials, you can do so without risk:

Polyester.
Acetate.
Nylon.
Microfiber.
Rubber.
Foam.
Acrylic.
Polyurethane.

The Following Steps

Put your mousepad along with a small amount of soap or gentle detergent in the washing machine.
Add a tiny bit of light detergent or soap.
Set the washer to a low, cold spin. Avoid using hot water since the heat could harm the rubber backing.
Alternately, switch to a mild cycle.
Never use bleach.
The mousepad should then be air-dried. For best effects, wait between 24 and 36 hours before using the product again.

How to Wash A Mousepad, Depending on the type and caliber of the mouse pads, the outcomes could differ. Contact the manufacturer to find out if it’s safe for a washing machine you’re unsure of. It is preferable to wash a mouse pad by hand because a mouse pad with a custom design printed on it could be destroyed in a washing machine.

How to Wash a Mousepad in The Dryer?

How to Wash A Mousepad It’s advised to stay away from drying soft or fabric mouse pads in a dryer. A dryer can harm the rubber backing of the pad because it needs heat to function. The use of a towel or prolonged air drying is the safest method for drying a fabric mouse pad. You might wish to buy an extra mouse pad if you need to use one in the interim.

Should You Clean Mouse Pad Frequently?

How frequently you clean your mouse pad will primarily rely on how frequently it is used. If you work in an office, it’s a good idea to try to clean your mouse pad at least three or four times a year.

Of course, for dire circumstances, raise that number. You never know when you’ll knock over your mouse pad or spill coffee on the floor!

How to Clean & Organize Your Work Desk

You might as well go all out and tidy up your entire desk now that your mouse pad looks so good. Here are some other suggestions for organizing your workspace:

Clean the keyboard: On a keyboard, dust can quickly get caught between the keys. To get rid of the bunnies, use a feather duster and a can of compressed air.

Clean the monitors: Take a microfiber cloth and clean the monitors with it. Your screen will get a little bit clearer and aid to eliminate fingerprints.

Bring plants inside: In addition to being a pleasant touch in any office, plants also help to clean the air. Consider a peace lily or a spider plant if you want something fresh and green.

Organize Paper: There are many desk organizers available that are made expressly for paper. These provide excellent laptop storage areas.

Label each item: Do you have a lot of drawers and cabinets on your desk? Put some labels on the outside so you can see what’s within.

Reduce all clutter: Take care when decorating not to go crazy. You don’t need a lot of trinkets in your room other than a good light and a framed photo of your family.

Place a Garbage Can Below: Although the sandwich was wonderful, do you really need to keep the wrapper on your desk? Put your trash in a designated trash can. If you have a separate one for recycling, bonus points!

Simple Cleaning Techniques

A mousepad doesn’t need to be fully cleaned every time. If you believe a fast touch-up would suffice, heed these recommendations:

To get rid of dirt and debris from a soft pad, use a hand vacuum.
Use a microfiber towel or disinfectant wipe to clean dust from a metal or plastic pad.
Make use of a compressed air duster to blow away clutter.
On a soft pad, apply a fabric protector to repel fluids and stop stains.

What to Do and What Not to Do

How to Wash A Mousepad: Now that you know how to clean a mousepad, consider these further suggestions:

Do’s

Instead of using soap or shampoo, you can sprinkle some baking soda on a stain.
Use cold water to rinse.
Allow it to air dry for at least a day.
With consideration for the material, decide whether you can wash it.

Don’t

Put it in the dryer, microwave, or dishwasher.
Too much time spent outside in the sun.
Hair dryer use

Read our recent post: Best way How to clean Xbox one controller in 2023

FAQs

How to wash a mouse pad without using water?

There are techniques for cleaning your mouse pad without using water. The materials the mouse pad is manufactured from, however, will have an impact on what you use to clean it.

To clean your mouse pad, you can opt to use antibacterial wipes. These are beneficial because they keep the mouse pad clean and will help eliminate any residual bacteria. Another benefit is that they frequently have a lovely scent.

How to Wash A Mousepad, Another excellent approach to cleaning your mouse pad without using water is with a damp fiber cloth towel. Your mouse pad will be cleaner and fresher as a result of the dirt and debris being removed.

How can a mouse pad be cleaned of stains?

The simplest approach to clean up spills off a mouse pad is to dab it lightly with dish soap and scrub it with a brush or cloth. Applying water will help the pad lather. This will assist in removing the spots. Always remember to rinse the mouse pad after use and to let it air dry.

You can opt to wash the mouse in the washing machine, depending on the materials it is constructed of. Always exercise caution when doing this, and wash it quickly and with cold water.

How to Wash A Mousepad, Additionally, you have the option of using cleaning wipes to get rid of the stains. However, soaking and scrubbing the mouse pad will get rid of stains the fastest.

How long does a mouse pad take to dry?

The materials used to make the mouse pad and how wet it is will determine how long it takes to dry. A mouse pad that is just a little bit damp will dry much more quickly than one that is entirely saturated.

How to Wash A Mousepad, However, because they are thin and very small, mouse pads often don’t take very long to dry. A mouse pad can typically dry in anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes and up to several hours.

The mouse pad will dry much more quickly if you place it in the sun or a warm area as opposed to, say, a wet or chilly environment.

Can Corsair mouse pads be washed?

If you have a Corsair mouse pad, you must be cautious when cleaning it. We always advise according to Corsair’s cleaning recommendations and procedures.

Corsair advises washing the mouse pad in warm water with a little dish soap. You should give the mouse pad a little period of soak time. Following this, you should lightly scrape the surface to assist remove any stains.

Following this, you should give the mouse pad a warm water rinse and let it air dry.

Can a dirty mouse pad interfere with gaming?

Yes, playing games can be impacted by a dirty mouse pad. Trackball mice are less widespread today, therefore it does not influence gaming as much, but they will still damage modern mice.

If your mouse pad is sticky or otherwise unclean, it may slow down your games and impair how you move generally.

Additionally, if your mouse pad is old or worn down, this could also affect how you play games because the mouse could become stuck and move more slowly as a result.

In addition, if your mouse pad has a lot of dirt or debris, this could still get lodged in your mouse and prevent the sensors from functioning properly.

Given this, it is much preferable to keep your mouse pad clean at all times and to replace it when it begins to show signs of wear.

Final Thought,

So, how to wash a mouse pad? A mousepad is simple to clean, and even minor efforts over time can have a significant impact. By carrying out these actions, you are essentially improving the surface that your mouse operates on. Your game performance should then only slightly improve as a result, with accuracy being the key gainer. By cleaning your mousepad regularly (or whenever necessary), you won’t have to worry about replacing it any time soon.