Is your gaming mouse looking a little mucky? It’s a good thing we have a whole bunch of cleaning tips right here for you!
Our gaming mice see a lot of usage. From marathon gaming sessions to taking advantage of their ergonomic shape whilst we work from home; they are a vital tool in our arsenal. It stands to reason, that they can get really quite grubby. To help keep your gaming mouse in tip-top shape, we’ve put together this handy guide full of helpful tips and tricks on how to clean your gaming mouse.
Why Should I Clean My Gaming Mouse?
First of all, why should you be cleaning your gaming mouse? As it is used so frequently, grease, sweat, and oils from our hands get deposited on the mouse’s shell. Over time, this will build up. Plus, if you eat at your desk, then crumbs can work their way into your mouse. The same goes for pet hairs; I, for one, am regularly picking dog hairs out of my mouse’s sensor! All of this can lead to an unpleasant feel every time you use your mouse, not to mention the effect it can have on performance! What’s the point of high DPI settings if the sensor is reading your biscuit crumbs and not the mouse mat below?
Before You Start!
Before you snap on the marigolds, there are a few things to consider and get ready.
Unplug your mouse! Wired mice, unplug; wireless mice, remove the batteries. This keeps you safe and stops your batteries from getting soggy. Which is never a good idea. So, once more: unplug or remove the batteries.
Gather everything that you’re going to need, save going back and forth whilst you are halfway through cleaning. If you follow our tips, you will need: a toothpick, alcohol wipes or a microfibre cloth and soapy water, an air duster, and paper towels.
Rather than cleaning at your desk, take your mouse to a clear table or surface. This removes the risk of spilling and damaging your electricals. Especially if you are opting to clean with soapy water instead of alcohol wipes.
Wherever you are working, lay down a paper towel. This will help to catch any grit or grime that will come loose in the cleaning process. And it will make clearing up a breeze, simply fold in on itself and bin! No stray bits of dirt to chase after.
Scrape Off Visible Dirt
If your gaming mouse has any gaps in the shell or obvious lumps of grime, then you’re going to want to start with the toothpicks. These can be used to scrape along the lines, drawing out the built-up dirt. The fine-pointed end is perfect for accessing these nooks and crannies, just be careful to not exert too much pressure. You don’t want to damage your mouse or force any parts to open. Equally, do not use the toothpick to clean the sensor, we have a better tool for that job coming up.
Should you have followed our tip to put a paper towel down, you also have somewhere to wipe your toothpick if the dirt stays stuck on. This way, your implement stays functional, and you don’t have to waste more toothpicks than needed.
The Sensitive Part
For the sensor, we recommend compressed air or an air duster. This will safely blow away any dust or hair caught in the area. It’s also great for dusting the battery compartment on wireless mice. What’s more, they can also be used to spray away any remaining bits of dirt worked loose by the toothpick.
Please note, when using canned or compressed it, it is very important you keep the can upright. This way only air gets blown out, and no liquid. If you’d prefer to avoid the risk, then opt for a motorised air duster. These can be used for cleaning your gaming PC, keyboard, laptops, and other electricals. Heck, dust your whole house with it!
IT Dusters CompuCleaner Original II – Electric Air Duster
- Motorised 500W air duster
- Lightweight design
- Three nozzle attachments
- Ideal for dusting gaming PCs, peripherals, and more
- Three metre long power cord
OcUK Air Duster Compressed Air (400ml) Single Pack
- 400ml compressed air can
- Single pack
- Fine nozzle for hard to reach places
- Ideal for cleaning peripherals
Cleaning the Shell
It’s finally time for the marigolds. There are two main methods for cleaning the mouse’s shell: alcohol wipes or soap and water. Both are simple, effective, and easy to do – which you go for is entirely your preference.
Alcohol Wipes
- Take an alcohol wipe from the pack.
- Wipe the mouse’s surface to remove any grease, bacteria, and residual grime.
- Repeat step two as necessary.
- Pat dry with a paper towel.
Simple as!
There are, however, a couple things to note when utilising alcohol wipes. First of all, make sure they are safe to use with the material of your gaming mouse. Nobody wants to wipe away the colour or damage the outer shell! Secondly, for wireless mice, do not use the alcohol wipe in the battery compartment. This is a no-go zone for moisture. Stick to dusting only.
Soap and Water
If you don’t have any alcohol wipes to hand, then warm, soapy water is a fine alternative.
- Fill a bowl with warm water and a mild detergent. Dish soap is perfectly fine, and you only need a small amount. (Just like with the washing up!)
- Soak a lint-free, microfibre cloth in the soapy water.
- Wring it out as much as possible. This is super important, so I’ll say it again: wring out the cloth as much as possible. Excess moisture can drip into the fragile electricals of your gaming mouse, and we do not want this to happen. Before putting the cloth anywhere near your mouse, check to see if it’s dripping at all. If it is, squeeze some more.
- With the dampened cloth, wipe the mouse’s surface to remove any grease, bacteria, and residual grime.
- Repeat step four as necessary. If you need to resoak your cloth, be sure to wring it out again.
- Pat dry with a paper towel, being especially vigilant for extra moisture.
Whilst there may be a couple extra steps, this method is just as easy as the first. Equally, there are a few dos and don’ts to go with it. Do not submerge the mouse. Just, no. Just like with alcohol wipes, do not bring any moisture into the battery compartments of wireless mice. It is important this component stays dry. Once again, dusters only here.
Plug It All Back In!
Double check every part of your gaming mouse is dry. Once it is, you can plug it back in, return the batteries, and game on!
Want to give your whole gaming set-up a once over? Check out all our cleaning guides, tips, and articles over at our Spring Cleaning hub. Usable all year round!
More Cleaning Tips
If you’re more of a visual learner, Briony put together a video of some great cleaning tips for your gaming set-up.
Beyond All Hope?
If you’ve got to this point, steps followed, videos watched, and your gaming mouse is still looking worse for wear, then it may be time to upgrade. At Overclockers UK, we have an extensive collection of gaming mice covering a range of popular brands, genre features, colours, and connections. Explore them all and find your perfect gaming mouse!
How Do You Clean Your Mouse?
Have we missed the best hack for cleaning your gaming mouse? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll add it to the article!
- 7 min read
Emily Haylock
Author
Emily is a board and cosy gamer, keyboard obsessive, and content copywriter for Overclockers UK. She has been with Overclockers UK since 2020, writing about everything from noblechairs to 8Pack PCs. She writes from within her desk nest with a foster pup at her feet. (What, a desk duvet is a totally normal thing!) In her downtime, she likes to play board games, farming sims, and old-school Final Fantasy. IX to be specific. It is the best, and that is a hill she will die on.
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