How To Clean Any Kind Of Mousepad? 6 Simple Steps
When you are fully immersed in the game and taking out enemies is your second nature, it is annoying when you realize you start missing your hits.
You probably thought it is your mouse to blame, or perhaps bad internet connection. Yet the problem still occurs even after fixing them. When this happens, it is time to check your mousepad and ask yourself:
“When did I buy it? Have I ever cleaned it?”
Yes, any kind of mousepad does need cleaning. Dirt and dust should not wreck your aim and accuracy in any game. Snacking in front of the computer may cause a mousepad to get dirty quickly. Hence, a thorough cleaning routine is a must. Without further ado, here’s how to clean any kind of mousepad including those cool looking RGB mousepads.
7 steps to clean a cloth mousepad
1. Gather the tools
A cloth mousepad is usually made of low-density rubber mat with fabric embedded on top. Most dust and dirt accumulate on the fabric surface even on high thread-count fabric like Cordura. But the good news is, it is easy to clean with just about any soft soap. Use the stuff you already have in your house. Take hand soap or shampoo, a clean dish sponge (choose the soft one), clothespins, and some towels to dry the pad.
2. Soak in water
We need a surface that will not fold the mousepad, so a bath or shower floor will do. Place the mousepad on the floor surface and run the water until soaked. Do not worry about submerging it. Water helps you clean easier.
3. Clean thoroughly
Put the appropriate amount of soap on the mousepad. It is preferable if you put a small amount of soap while you scrub and start from there instead of putting too much on. It could make it harder to rinse off. Use the soft sponge to scrub the pad in quadrants and clean it thoroughly. Avoid rubbing too hard, or else the fabric may fray. The balance between gentle and firm should work. Dispose of water once it gets murky.
4. Rinse the soap clean
Dispose of the dirty water and put away the sponge. Run the water and rinse the mousepad thoroughly. Stop rinsing when there is no visible soap bubble and the fabric is no longer slippery.
5. Repeat
Repeat steps 2-4 until you are sure that there is no remaining dust and dirt.
6. Dry gently
After completely rinsing your mousepad from soap, it is time to dry it using the towels we prepared earlier. Lay one towel on the dry floor and put the mousepad on top of it. Gently dab it with another towel. Put a little pressure if you want to, but do not let it stretch sideways. Flip the mousepad so you can work on the other side. Half dry is fine as the next step will complete the drying process.
7. Hang until dry
Use the clothespin to hang the mousepad on a string/wire to prevent bumps on it. It would be great if you put folded paper towels under the clothespins to prevent them from marking the mousepad. Also, make sure you dry it indoor on room temperature, otherwise, the rubber will shrink unevenly and create annoying bumps.
5 steps to clean an RGB mousepad
1. Gather the tools
You need similar tools as you would clean a cloth mousepad. Take hand soap/dish soap, damp towel and dry towel, a paper towel, and a soft sponge. Make sure to use a clean sponge for this but if you do not have one, a washcloth will do.
2. Unplug the mat
RGB mousepad has an RGB module that connects to an LED strip running on the edges. The strip itself has no electric current running in it, but you may have to be careful with the module. The RGB module is a little box that controls the lighting on the mousepad. It is quite risky to have it exposed to water, so you better unplug the mousepad first before you start cleaning.
3. Soak the Sponge
Cleaning RGB mousepad is a little bit different since you cannot bathe it in water. What you need to do is take the sponge and soak it in warm water. Pour a little dish soap on to the sponge and you are ready for the real fun.
4. Scrub gently
Use the sponge with the soap and gently scrub the surface starting from the middle to the edges. We recommend you put the least amount of water, enough to soak the sponge until the soap bubbles a little. Be careful around the edges as you can damage the stitching and fray the fabric. When you are cleaning the area around the RGB module, carefully scrub around it. If you accidentally expose is to soap, quickly clean it with a dry towel. Rinse it with a damp towel without soaking it. Check the result by running a paper towel on the surface, and repeat the steps when necessary.
5. Dry it thoroughly
Take the dry towel and dab the surface until it is almost dry. You should let it air dry at room temperature to prevent bumps. If you don’t have much time, use a hairdryer on the lowest setting.
Conclusion
Mousepads are often overlooked but matter significantly on how a gamer performs. A mousepad sits on your desk all the time so it is only logical that it catches dust over time. The dust will impact your gaming mouse tracking and the result is a declined accuracy. You may notice it from the extra effort required to move the mouse or discomfort around your wrist.
It is very easy to clean your mousepad. It only requires some soft soap and a sponge to scrub the dust away. To clean it safely, you have to determine what kind of mousepad you have. Since RGB mousepads have a wiring system, a different treatment should be applied. Clean your mousepad and you will see how a simple trick can affect your gaming performance.
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