How to clean a mouse pad: cloth, RGB and hard pads

Step by step: how to clean a mouse pad

1. 1

   Check what kind of pad you have

   Look for a cable, lights or a small electronics box at one edge: that is an RGB or wired pad and must never be soaked. Check the brand’s care page too, since some makers only recommend wiping. A hard plastic, aluminum or glass pad just needs a wipe.

2. 2

   Roll off loose crumbs and hair

   Shake the pad outside or run a lint roller over it to lift crumbs, pet hair and dust. This keeps grit from scrubbing into the cloth in the next steps.

3. 3

   Soak it in warm, soapy water

   For a plain cloth pad, fill a sink or tub with warm water and lay the pad in it. Add a small amount of mild dish soap directly onto the pad; a few drops is enough for a desk-size pad.

4. 4

   Scrub with a soft brush

   Brush the whole cloth surface in small circles, a little harder where your palm and wrist rest. You should see the water turn gray as skin oil and dirt come out. Do not scrub the rubber base hard.

5. 5

   Rinse until no suds remain

   Rinse the pad under the tap or in clean water, pressing the cloth with your hands until the water runs clear. Leftover soap makes the surface sticky and slow.

6. 6

   Press out the water

   Lay the pad flat on a towel, roll the towel up with the pad inside and press. Do not wring, twist or fold the pad, which can crease the cloth or crack the base.

7. 7

   Dry it flat

   Unroll it and leave it to dry flat on a dry towel, cloth side down, out of direct sun. Give it several hours; a thick pad can take up to a full day. Use it only when the base is fully dry.

How to clean each type of mouse pad

Cloth pads can usually be washed, RGB pads only wiped, and hard pads just wiped down. Makers disagree on soap and soaking, so their instructions override this table.

SteelSeries’ cloth pad method is the soak and brush routine in the steps above, and it notes that rubber or plastic pads can simply be wiped with a damp cloth or wet wipe.

How to clean an RGB mouse pad without damaging it

Unplug it and clean it with a damp, wrung-out cloth, never under water. SteelSeries’ RGB pad instructions say to soak a microfiber cloth in warm water with a little mild dish soap, wring it out as much as possible and wipe the surface, keeping all moisture away from the electronics box where the cable exits.

• Rinse the cloth, wring it out again and wipe the pad a second time to remove all soap.
• Let the pad dry flat, right side up, before you plug it back in.
• Corsair’s cleaning guide adds two cautions: skip paper towels, which shed fragments as you scrub, and go gently around the lit rim, where the light strip is held on by thin plastic strands.

Can you wash a mouse pad in the washing machine?

Usually not: SteelSeries notes that makers advise against machine washing soft cloth pads, and only pads sold as machine washable should go in. Check the label or the maker’s support page before you try it.

• Corsair’s method for a non-RGB pad skips the soak: brush in circles with a soft brush, then wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap, tested on a small hidden spot first. For a tough stain it suggests equal parts water and vinegar, left a few minutes, then wiped off with a clean damp cloth.
• SteelSeries says machine washing is only for pads made to take it: cold water, a gentle cycle, a little mild detergent, no bleach, and a full air dry of 24 to 36 hours.
• Never put a mouse pad in the dryer. Heat can warp the rubber base and lift the cloth.

Clean the mouse feet and your keyboard while the pad dries; see how to clean a keyboard.

Mistakes to avoid

• Soaking an RGB or wired pad, which can ruin the electronics.
• Using too much soap, which leaves a sticky film that slows the mouse.
• Wringing, folding or rolling the pad to dry it.
• Putting it in the dryer or in hot sun, which warps the base.
• Using the pad before the rubber base is fully dry, which traps moisture and smells musty.
• Scrubbing with paper towels, which break apart and leave bits in the cloth.