Face it: Unless it’s new, your mousepad is probably dirty. It’s constantly exposed to dust, sweat, and whatever else that’s on your hands or floating around your desk. Whether you admit it or not, it’s probably time the thing was washed. But how do you clean a mousepad? Is it even safe to? And what should you use to wash a hard mousepad, or one with electronic RGB lights?
Is it safe to wash a mousepad?
Most common mousepads are made up of two distinct materials: A cloth cover and a rubber or rubber composite base. The cloth is typically either polyester, nylon, or microfiber — all fabrics that are safe to wash with soap and water. Rubber, of course, is naturally waterproof.
Since typical mousepads are made out of water-safe materials, they’re totally safe to wash. They’re also safe to put into a clothes washing machine. We understand if the idea makes you nervous, but plenty of PC users have ran their cloth-and-rubber mousepads through a washing machine without any ill effects. In fact, both Steelseries and Glorious PC Gaming say their non-electronic pads are safe to throw into the machine. Just don’t use hot water or put them into the dryer, as heat can quickly ruin rubber.
In other words, soap and water are safe to use to clean most common mousepads. The only exception is with unusual materials, some hard mousepads, and any pad with electronics or RGB lights.
How to clean a cloth or fabric mousepad
Soft cloth and fabric-based mousepads can safely be cleaned with soap and water. Soak the fabric first, then scrub the pad with soap and a soft brush or cloth. Alternatively, you can throw it into your washing machine.
Here’s the easiest method:
- Soak the mousepad in a bowl, sink, or tub using cool water
- Apply a small amount of dish detergent or other mild soap, then work it into the fabric with a washcloth or soft brush
- Rinse the mousepad thoroughly, ensuring no soap remains
- Pat it dry with a towel, then place or hang it somewhere to completely air dry
How to clean a hard or RGB mousepad
It’s still simple to clean hard or RGB mousepads, but you shouldn’t use the same method you’d use for soft fabric. Instead, hard-backed and electronic mousepads are best cleaned with a damp cloth.
You do not want to submerge or otherwise expose RGB or electronic mousepads to water. Likewise, soap isn’t a great idea, since there’s no easy way to rinse it all out. For better or worse, your best bet is to scrub spots and stains out of the pad with a washcloth.
If your hard-backed mousepad does not have a fabric topper, good news: You can simply wipe it down with whatever. A washcloth dampened with water should suffice — just avoid using any cleaning agents, as they could damage the surface. You should also be sure to let it dry completely before putting it back to use.
Strange as it may sound, you can basically clean a mousepad the same way you’d wash a t-shirt. Scrub it in the sink with soap and water, or simply throw it into the washing machine. Just don’t let your RGB or electronic mousepad get wet, as being broken is a lot worse than being dirty.
