Your desks can easily build up dust and aren’t just dust, It’s both also sweat and liquid stains accumulated when you play. A dirty mouse pad also increases friction between your mice and the pad, which can negatively affect your gaming performance.
Fortunately, cleaning a mousepad is easy, and you probably already have all the supplies needed. Here are the steps for your custom gaming mousepad.
Cloth-Based Pads
Mouse Pads made from cloth can easily get dirty. A quick touch test shows just how dirty it is and where to focus on cleaning.
Step 1: Soaking in hot water
The easiest step, throw the mousepad into the sink (in the kitchen or shower) and run warm water over the surface until fully soaked. You can also use a basin if your sink is small.
Important reminder: Don’t use boiling hot water because it could damage the rubber layer at the bottom of the mouse pad. It could cause separation from the surface so definitely a no-no.
Step 2: Add a small amount of laundry detergent to the water
Since your mouse pad is made of cloth, you can easily wash it with regular laundry detergent. Don’t pick the ones that contain added softeners or bleach. Add a generous amount using a small cup or the detergent lid.
Step 3: Scrub using a microfiber towel
Use a clean microfiber towel to scrub in circular motions and focus on those problem spots or the dirty areas on the surface. Dust can easily accumulate and clouding comes out once you continue this process.
Step 4: Wash the Pad
Wash the pad with water and continue scrubbing until the bubbles evaporate. It’s advisable to rinse the entire pad front and back.
Step 5: Let it Dry
Dry your mousepad as best as you can by using a dry towel. Leave it on a flat surface for three hours until it totally dries. You should be able to use the pad after drying.
Hard Gaming Mousepad
Same as the cloth-based material, hard mousepads also build up dust and germs, and added friction might ruin your gaming experience, especially games that require a lot of mouse movements.
Fortunately, hard mousepads are very easy to clean in just two steps.
Step 1: Wring out a cloth with warm water.
A similar step that we did for the cloth-based pads earlier, Wring out a cloth with warm water to loosen up dirt build-up and debris.
Pro Tip: Rubbing it with a small amount of hand sanitizer or alcohol will help soften sticky dirt from oil and grease.
Step 2: Simply Wipe and Let Dry
When wiping, Focus on the area with sticky dirt by using a sanitizer or alcohol until it melts away. Leave it to dry for 30 minutes and pretty much you use it after drying.
RGB Custom Gaming Mousepad (Pads with LED strips or Custom Print)
If your mouse pad has a nice design print, added gel wrist material and other electronics embedded, you may need to be gentle in cleaning it compare to the first two methods above.
Step 1: Fill up a bowl with warm water
You’ll use a bowl for this special guy to dampen your cloth during the cleaning. It’s advisable to still use a clean microfiber towel dampened with warm water.
Step 2: Use Shampoo instead of Laundry Detergent
It is recommended to use shampoo for special mousepads as it’ll be much more gentle on the material compared to the laundry detergent.
Apply a small amount of shampoo to the damp microfiber cloth and begin scrubbing in gentle circular motions. Focus on the sticky and dusty areas. Repeat the process if necessary.
Step 3: The Easy Part, Rinse!
Get a new clean microfibre cloth and run it with warm water. Use it to rinse the shampoo, dab, and scrub until it’s clean, soak any electronic components as necessary.
Step 4: Dry thoroughly, then let sit
Dab the RGB mousepad with a new clean towel, let it sit to dry for a few hours, and you will be done after.
Why Do We Care?
Cleaning your gaming accessory, especially the mouse pad can improve usability and better mouse accuracy. Cleaning can help extend the life expectancy of your mousepad and improve your gaming one step further. At the very least, we know it’s hard to get some time to clean but maintaining hygiene can give you minimal effort to clean this accessory on a weekly basis.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why Cleaning Your Gaming Mousepad is Essential?
Gaming mousepads like the standard mouse pads require cleaning to maintain high precision control and smooth surfaces. Cleaning your gaming mousepad regularly helps keep your mouse accurate and responsive. The best method for cleaning mousepads is to wipe them with dustless wipes. When using a cloth, dry the mouse pad well and apply several light swipes with the dampened cloth until all areas are clean and free from debris.
How Often Should You Clean Your Mouse Pad?
The best mouse pad should be cleaned at least once a week, preferably after each use. If you’re cleaning it weekly, you’ll notice that dirt builds up and gets harder to remove.
Can You Put Your Mouse Pad in the Washer or Dryer?
Yes, you can put your mouse pad in the washer, but if you dry it with a clothes dryer, it may melt. A better idea would be to throw it away.
Can You Clean Your Mousepad in a Washing Machine?
Mousepads made from cloth are usually machine washable, but it’s risky and we wouldn’t recommend it. Cleaning it with a washing machine might damage the material in some way, so do it manually instead. If you have no other choice and you want to save time, at least set the water temperature low and let it air dry instead of using the dryer.
