You don’t need to be a detective to find out why your mouse isn’t working as smoothly as before. Dust, food bits, and grease seeped into the smooth surface of the desk mat or mouse pad are the usual culprits. Cleaning your keyboard setup often will avoid dirt buildup and keep its surface pristine for your best performance. Read on to learn how!

STEPS TO CLEAN A SOFT DESK MAT/MOUSE PAD

1. Put it in a bowl, bathtub(for the desk mat) or sink so it can lie flat.
2. Soak it in warm water and pour in a small amount of dish soap, hand soap, or mild detergent.
3. Allow it to soak for a few minutes before scrubbing your mouse pad or desk mat with a soft bristle brush or even your hand.
4. Scrub both sides as gently as you can.
5. Thoroughly rinse it in warm water until no soap is visible on the surface.
6. Allow the mouse pad to drain entirely before patting it dry with a towel and letting it air dry for the day.   

Ensuring to dry your pad or mat before laying it back on your desk is critical since any moisture trapped within it might ruin your desk or create mold. Alternatively, pet owners might use a lint roller to pick up any pet hair from time to time.

 STEPS TO CLEANING LEATHER/SUEDE DESK MATS:

1. Leather desk pads should only be wiped and spot cleaned. If wiping isn’t enough, professional cleaning is the safest solution for your expensive desk mat.
2. Fill a basin halfway with water and soap.
3. Dip a microfiber cloth into the soapy water.
4. Using circular movements, gently wipe down the filthy portions of your desk mat.
5. To remove the excess soap and water from the leather, use another cloth or the dried portion of the previous cloth.
6. Allow it to air dry completely before using it.

STEPS TO CLEAN HARD DESK MATS/MOUSEPADS

Hard desk pads are pretty easy to clean and are made of hard plastic, wood, or even glass.

1. To begin with, wipe out all the dust particles using a dry towel.
2. Now, spritz water or a cleanser on the desk and begin wiping it clean with a microfiber cloth.
3. Remove any excess water and clean the mouse pad using a dry towel.

 STEPS TO CLEAN RGB DESK MATS/MOUSEPADS

It is essential to consult the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before washing any RGB desk mat or mouse pad. To do a quick clean, just wipe with a dry microfiber cloth.

1. Unplug your RGB mouse pad or desk pad.
2. In a basin of warm water, place 10–15 drops of dish soap.
3. Ring out a microfiber cloth after soaking it in water.
4. Use the damp microfiber cloth to thoroughly clean the dirty portions.
5. Avoid getting too close to the edges or the RGB module.
6. Thoroughly rinse the microfiber cloth with warm water.
7. Clean the surface once more with the non-soapy, wet cloth.
8. Then, wipe away any residual water and soap using a dry cloth or towel.
9. Allow the mouse pad or desk mat to air dry completely for 24 hours.

THINGS TO AVOID WHILE CLEANING

• Soft mouse pads and desk mats should not be washed in washing machines or dishwashers because the rubber pieces on the surface can be easily damaged. These must be spotless in order for the mouse to glide smoothly.
• Most pads are made of rubber, which has a low melting point. This indicates that putting it in the microwave, using a hairdryer, letting it spin in hot water, or leaving it out to dry in the sun are all terrible decisions.

Cleaning your mouse pad may seem time-consuming, but by following these few easy tips, you can keep it clean without having to clean it as often.

• Wipe down your devices on a regular basis with a microfiber cloth.
• Spills, drips, and leaks should be avoided.
• Try to keep pets off your workstation. Cats are infamous for napping on mouse pads and desk mats, and their hair will eventually get them dirty, or end up in between the keys of your keyboard!
• Food should not be placed or eaten on your mouse pad or desk mat. 

If you have any other brilliant ideas, please put them in the comments down below