How to Clean a Mousepad?

And Not to Spoil it

Written by Olivia Paxton. Updated on how to clean a mousepad

If you think are mouse mats washable, our answer is  – yes!

And did you know that we use mousepad from 1982?!

The neat mouse mat affects the accuracy of cursor positioning, ease of mouse control, and, as a result, its performance. The dusting these mats process depends on the fibre and surface.

What is your mousepad?
Hyperx mousepad
31.68%
Cloth mousepad
35.35%
Steelseries mousepad
15.2%
None of them
17.77%

As you know from the latest scientists tests that mouses accuracy would deteriorate by 26% after more than 3 months of everyday use without cleaning. Michigan Scientific Laboratory says: that grease from fingers, dirt, and oil from humans’ skin also grease from dirty mousepad and cause problems with a mouse’s optical system as cause allergies.

A greasy mouse with close contact with the human body can cause irritation and itchiness.

This is not an easy deal even for plastic and metal mats. 

Expensive gaming accessories sometimes also differ in many ways: control (for accurate cursor movement) has a rough pile structure that cannot be damaged, speed, on the contrary, is absolutely smooth and slippery. 

How to dust a gaming mat?

So after washing it does not turn into a very good-looking, but useless thing?

How to take care of steelseries gaming mat?

Steelseries pad is classical rubberized rugs, sturdy, with no stitched edges.

They normally deal with ordinary hand wash. Bunch of experts says that after 5-7 neat washes, they retained their properties.

Some Roccat gaming rugs contain a thin layer of aluminum between rubber and topcoat for durability and this is better for mouse optics. Although metal is “do not like” moisture much, such items should be washed with care.

It is forbidden to crush or bend a freshly cleaned Steelseries gaming mat. The best thing to treat this sort of item is streaming water and mild soap.

How to take care of steelseries gaming mat
belchonock via VistaCreate

Сan you put a gaming rug in the washing barrel?

If you think how to dust a gaming mat properly and look at your washing device… Don’t do it!

Often friends ask us, are computer mouse mats automatically laundered, sorry but you can’t do it. 

Gaming mat will quickly become spoiled, and may even become useless even after the first wash.

If your item is very dirty,  that you don’t even want to mess around with it, it’s better to throw it away and buy a new one.

How to launder hyperx gaming rug?

The HyperX mat has great non-abrasive edges with smooth stitching that create a smooth surface. The item is made of dense fabric and has a smooth surface to the touch. HyperX has a textured vegetable rubber base.

To dust hyperx mat use manual washing with a liquid soap and dry it in a straightened form.

How often do you clean your mousepad?
Once a week
6.82%
Once a month
12.12%
Never washed
62.88%
When I spill something on it
18.18%

We consist these gaming mats can not be washed in a washing device!

How to launder hyperx gaming rug
amynapaloha via VistaCreate

How to dust a fibre gaming mat?

Fibre mats and with a rubber base for mounting on a table are the most common kind of this product on the market. 

Cloth mat surfaces are comfortable but quickly collect dust, hair, grease, and dirt from hands. And they are quite sensitive to moist-consisting washing. 

For everyday care, you should get a bristle for woolen fabrics with a short pile or a toothbrush (new) with decilate bristles and scrape off the dust once a week. 

For cloth gaming rugs, it’s good to have a vacuum cleaner – one of those small ones that are used to hoover a computer.

How to dust a gaming mat if dry care option is no longer helpful? 

Before soaking, you need to make sure that the paint does not fade: you need to rub the edge of the fabric with a damp cloth – if it does not smear, then you can wash it:

  • clean the item under pouring water and mount it to the wall of the bathroom or sink;
  • use a mild soap, shampoo, or dishwashing liquid to cleanse the mat, non-alkaline and non-acidic (with a neutral pH balance, you can take one for kids);
  • with a hand or a sponge, wash it from top to bottom;
  • leave it in suds for 5-7 minutes;
  • flush the mat thoroughly, press lightly on it to squeeze the soap until it disappears completely.

If the item has a “control” coating, brushing it is prohibited, only delicate manual movements are used.

If you damage the rough structure of the gaming rug it means to get a rather expensive rag. If the edges of the mat are not stitched tight, do not rub them hard.

Some people think that the shampoo suds “covering”  is useful for the mat, so you don’t need to wash off the foam until the end. 

In fact, it only can be harmful to the optics mouses (especially for a surface like “control”) and leaves white stains.

How to dust a gaming mat if dry care option is no longer helpful 
Shelbee via VistaCreate

Best way to cleanse a gaming mat:

  • do not scrub your gauge or squeeze it out
  • it should be dried by hanging over the edges on clothespins or spreading on a even surface with the backside down so that the coating does not peel off;
  • a hairdryer or battery are forbidden for the same reason;
  • washing temperature – no more than 104 degrees;
  • can be dried by wrapping in paper napkins, periodically changing them;
  • do not automatically wash;
  • leave the mat to air for a 24 hours or more, you can not use a damp accessory, especially for wooden tables;
  • make a washing time for gaming mats every 2-3 months.

How to Air a Mat?

  • Alter your item for about 24 hours in a straightened form so that there are no creases.
  • Do not alter the mat in direct sunlight or on a battery.
How to Air a Mat
limpido via VistaCreate

Gaming Mats with stiff side

A hard surface item is a fairly common accessory, including in a gaming environment. Their advantages are low cost, durability, and ease of maintenance. 

How to dust a mat made of plastic or gel-filled?

Often it is enough to wipe them with a damp cloth with liquid cleaners. 

These detergents are harmless, hypoallergenic, and at the same time, perfectly cope with stains and dust hard surfaces. If the mat is very dirty, you can wash it with warm water as a usual gaming rug.

How to dust a mat made of plastic or gel-filled
Spacecreator via VistaCreate

A mat with electronics or from the unusual stuff

Modern rugs are made of a variety of materials (bamboo, glassware, leather) and with additional functions: built-in electronic equipment, Bluetooth adapters, etc.

Such accessories often serve as a gift, but even if they are placed on the table only on holidays, they need maintenance. 

How to cleanse a mat from unusual materials?

Mouse pads with internal electronics are afraid of moisture. You can cleanse them using specific tools for gadgets: foam, moisturized napkins, or spray.

Glassware accessories should be wiped well with a dilute solution of ammonia: it will not leave streaks on the surface.

Bamboo products cannot be wetted: in damp, they swell and bend — the choice here cleaners for gadgets special napkins. 

TYPETYPE OF CLEANINGWHAT YOU NEED
Steelseries mousepadHand washRunning water and soap
Roccat mousepadWithout waterRunning water and soap
Hyperx mousepadHand washLiquid soap
Cloth mousepadDry cleaningBrush for woolen fabric, toothbrush, vacuum cleaner
Plastic mousepadDry cleaningWipe it with a damp cloth
Electronic mousepadDry cleaningSpecial tools for gadgets
Glass mousepadDry cleaningA dilute solution of ammonia
Cork mousepadDry cleaningSpecial napkins for gadgets

Today, some people find a computer mousepad an outdated and unnecessary item.

However, using a mouse without a mousepad will bring you very unpleasant  chips and scratches on the surface of the working table.

In addition, it is also a stylish accessory that is table to add a piece of your personality to the interior of the working area.

If you use this few simple recommendations for dusting mouse pad, you will be convinced  by your self that this procedure is not as complicated as it might seem at first.

Do not be lazy to find time to periodically wash the mousepad and take care of it.

How to cleanse a mat from unusual materials
leungchopan via VistaCreate

Things That Must Never Be Done to Mousepads

If you’re a gamer or simply spend a lot of time at the computer at work, you know for sure that the computer mouse mat is a very helpful thing to have on the table.

It doesn’t just help your mouse to grip better to the table surface, it allows you to work more efficiently. Imagine if you had to spend twice as much time on simply trying to get the cursor to the right icon on the screen because the mouse can’t move fast enough!

However, such a handy accessory tends to get dirty and greasy very fast which is no wonder, especially if we use it regularly and actively. But it is not only dust that you’re supposed to worry about.

Yes, the greasy surface of the mouse mat can reduce its grip and thus the efficiency of the mouse itself.

Nevertheless, dirty accessories like a mouse or keyboard can become a great “home” for microbes and bacteria, and that’s not good at all. 

But one more issue exists and it is about the way we maintain our computer devices. Since these electronic gadgets are quite expensive and sensitive to certain impacts, we need to learn what is unsafe for them.

That is why we decided to give every computer user a brief and informative guide that will help you to learn certain things that must never be done to mouse mats or other electronics in order to keep them working longer.

  1.  Never put mouse mats to the dryer since it can lead to damaging their surface, especially if it has any prints on it.
  2. Washing computer mats in hot water is not a good idea. Most of them are made of rather sensitive fibers that will decrease their quality and can even lose properties when cleaned improperly.
  3. If you realize it is time to take care of the keyboard, never cleanse it when it is still working. Unplug it first, then turn upside down and carefully shake a bit to get out all the debris and crumbs (we know you often eat at the computer!). Then simply spray each key with a compressed air and sanitize them with any quick-drying cleaner.
  4. We suggest you sanitize your mouse mat and keyboard regularly even if it is only you who is using the items. However, instead of hot water, go for any rapidly drying sanitizer to pulverize it over the rug or make use of a simple disinfectant wipe.
  5. Never apply water on metal or plastic mats since even a little bit of liquid will leave a spot.
  6. Avoid to air the gaming mat in a hot dryer. Instead, let it lay flat until it is completely moist-free. We believe that you’re aware of what happens to the wooden table if we place a damp item on it, right?

These hints are very simple to learn, but we hope that this brief guide will help you to maintain the gadgets in a good state so that they could serve you longer, or simply give the old and dusty ones a new life.

Things That Must Never Be Done to Mousepads
limpido via VistaCreate

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Olivia shares all she knows about the hotels, houses, and home cleaning with Beezzly readers. And she knows a lot! 15 years of work experience as a Manager in a former Four Season Service gave Olivia an exceptional base of professional knowledge and practical experience.
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