How to Clean Your Mousepad: Fabric, RGB, Plastic, and Leather Pads

Whether you’re working or gaming, your mousepad can accumulate body oils, dirt, and bacteria over time, affecting your mouse’s performance. Learn how to clean fabric, RGB (or lighted), plastic, and leather mousepads to keep your setup in top condition.

Things You Should Know:

To clean fabric and lighted RGB mousepads, mix warm water and dish soap in a bowl. Wet a soft brush or sponge in the solution and gently scrub the pad in circles. Then, rinse the pad with a damp cloth or under running water. Pat the pad dry with a towel and let it air dry overnight. To clean plastic mousepads, wipe the pad with rubbing alcohol, water and dish soap, or a disinfecting wipe. Rinse the pad with water and let it air dry.

Method 1: Cleaning Fabric and RGB Mousepads

1. Shake the mousepad over a trash can to remove loose dirt. Alternatively, use a dry cloth or lint roller to wipe off any dust and debris. You can also use a handheld vacuum for this purpose.

2. Mix dish soap and water and scrub the pad with a soft brush or sponge. Fill a bowl with warm water and several drops of dish soap. Dip a toothbrush, the soft side of a sponge, or a microfiber cloth in the solution and gently work it into the mousepad using soft, circular motions. For RGB mousepads, unplug them from your computer and move them away from other electronics before cleaning.

3. Rinse off the mousepad with cool water. For RGB mousepads, dampen a clean microfiber cloth with cool water and wipe down the pad to remove any soap residue. For regular fabric mousepads, hold the mousepad under cool, running water.

4. Pat the mousepad with a cloth and let it air dry overnight. Place the mousepad on a dry towel in a well-ventilated area. Pat it with a clean cloth to remove excess moisture and leave it on the towel to dry overnight. Avoid drying in direct sunlight to prevent fading.

Method 2: Cleaning Hard or Plastic Mousepads

1. Scrub the mousepad with rubbing alcohol or dish soap and water. Spray the mousepad with rubbing alcohol and scrub it with a clean microfiber cloth. Alternatively, dampen a cloth with warm water, add a drop of dish soap, and scrub the pad.

2. Wipe the mousepad with a disinfecting wipe for a quicker option. This removes loose dirt, dust, germs, and bacteria.

3. Rinse the mousepad with water and dry it with a towel. Hold the mousepad under cool running water to remove any cleaning residue. Then, use a clean microfiber towel to dry off the moisture. If you have a leather mousepad, avoid rinsing it with water.

4. Let the mousepad completely air dry on a dry towel in a well-ventilated area. After several hours, ensure it’s dry and ready to use.

Method 3: How Often to Clean Your Mousepad

Clean your mousepad once per week to remove body oils, dirt, dust, and bacteria accumulated through regular use. Dirty mousepads can affect your mouse’s response time, causing slower clicks and cursor movements.

Method 4: How to Clean Your Mouse

Clean your computer mouse once per week to prevent it from making your mousepad dirtier. Dampen a microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe the top, sides, and bottom of the mouse. Use a toothpick or compressed air to remove dirt from crevices. If your mouse has a trackball, remove and wipe it with a clean cloth, then clean the trackball compartment. Remember to unplug your mouse from your computer and remove its batteries before cleaning.