How to Clean Your Computer Mouse

Your computer’s mouse needs proper cleaning every now and then if you want the device to continue working properly.

If you don’t take a couple of moments to deal with the accumulated “mouse gunk,” you’re sentencing yourself to a life of jagged movements, sticking mouse balls and other annoyances.

Optical mice – the type that don’t require pads, but must still be moved along your desk – are some of the easiest to clean. Dampen a cotton swab with water and remove the accumulated gunk from the mouse’s underside. Wipe off any excess moisture with a

lint-free cloth (not a paper towel or your t-shirt, please) and you’re ready to go again.

The gunk usually builds up on tiny pedestals or feet that protrude slightly from the rest of the mouse’s underside. Pay careful attention to these areas when cleaning and your mouse will work like a brand-new device.

Trackball mice – the type with the ball on top instead of on the underside – are a little more complicated. You have to remove the mouse ball and use a dry cotton swab to wipe off the dirt, skin cells and other particles that have built up on the tiny wheels or points. Turn the mouse upside-down before you start swabbing. This will help the larger bits of crud fall onto the desk instead of deeper into the mouse’s body.

Touchpad mice – such as the ones on your laptop – can be wiped clean with a dry, lint-free cloth. You might not be able to see much buildup on the pad, but grease and natural oils from your fingers makes the surface less responsive.

And if you happen to have a mechanical mouse with a track ball on the bottom, just unscrew the surrounding ring and catch the ball before it rolls into the path of your overly-curious cat. Clean this mouse the same way that you would the trackball version, replace the ball and retaining ring and get back to work.

No matter what type of mouse you have, the cleaning job shouldn’t take more than five minutes. This is a tiny time investment considering that the return – a fully-functional piece of hardware that doesn’t frustrate you – is so large.

But you might still hate being interrupted to take apart and swab out your mouse. There are several things you can do to decrease the amount of buildup. You’ll still have to clean sometimes, but not as often.

Wash your hands before you use your computer. A good portion of the mouse gunk comes from your body. Dirt, oils and skin cells all create that dark, disgusting crud that you hate to clean.
Don’t eat or drink around the computer. Food crumbs often contribute to the crud – and spilling your soft drink all over the desk certainly does not help things.
Put your computer in a low-traffic area. The more foot traffic, the more dust and skin cells, among other things, your mouse will catch.
Dust regularly. Try to find a duster that actually traps the stuff instead of simply moving it around.

Keeping your mouse – and your computer’s environment – clean will also prolong the life spans of all your hardware.

Following these tips will give you more time with all of your computer’s parts – from the relatively-inexpensive mouse to the overly-expensive hardware inside your case.