Cheesy mouse mats hate this trick

Martin Jud

14/8/2025

Translation: machine translated

Cheesy. Lardy. Unworthy. If your mouse mat looks more like a breakfast mat, it's time for a bath.

What rests under the palm of your hand is far more than just an accessory. It's a stage, a tool and sometimes a silent victim of your snacking habits. The mouse mat: often underestimated, rarely cleaned, always in use. If you wait too long to clean the pores, there will be consequences. The mouse will stick more than it glides and I would also advise against the odour test.

It's time for a gentle wash.

Of course, this only applies to classic mouse mats/mouse pads without LED lighting. You should also be aware that certain prints may fade during cleaning.

Good detergents, bad detergents

Not every detergent is a friend to your mouse mat. You need something that cleans without causing damage - not a chemical sledgehammer.

Well suited:

• mild liquid detergent (e.g. mild or wool detergent)
• Baby shampoo or mild hand soap

Liquid detergent dissolves well even at low temperatures and leaves no residue. It's better to steer clear of powders: Not only can it form deposits, it can also roughen the underside of the rubber. You should use a mild detergent, as the surfactants and enzymes contained in fabric softener, for example, can attack the rubber coating. Fabric softener also leaves behind a film that impairs the adhesion of the mat.

Washing machine or hand wash

If you have a fabric mat with a rubber backing, you can actually throw it in the washing machine - but please do it with style:

• Fine or hand wash programme, 30 °C, no spin cycle
• No fabric softener, no drama
• Wash alone, she doesn't like the company of jeans or socks

For hand washing is enough:

• lukewarm water
• a mild drop of detergent
• a soft sponge or cloth
• and a little patience

Refrain from scrubbing like a berserker. For stubborn stains, it's better to use the products presented in the following chapter.

If your mouse mat has a print - be it a logo, a meme or a motif that you think is cool - then be careful. These prints are sensitive. They react to friction like a sunburn to peeling. Too much water, too much heat, too much enthusiasm when scrubbing - and the shine is gone. The colour fades or the print disappears completely. So: lukewarm water, gentle products, no soaking, no rubbing. And if you think you should just give «» a quick brush, don't.

For stubborn stains

Some stains are not just there - they have become ingrained. Grease, ink, coffee, that mysterious dark grey that you can't put your finger on: They all need more than just warm water and good intentions. Here are the two products that you won't find on the list of good things to do, because they can do more - and cause more damage if used incorrectly.

Gall soap is the product of choice when grease has taken hold. Apply selectively, leave on briefly and rinse thoroughly. Not over large areas, not overnight and certainly not on sensitive prints. Baking soda, on the other hand, is the silent hero against odours and light soiling. One teaspoon in lukewarm water is enough. More is not better - otherwise the surface will become rough and your mouse will glide like a piece of toast on sandpaper.

Drying

After washing comes the test of patience. The mouse mat doesn't want to be blow-dried, wrung out or put on the radiator. It wants to lie flat. Flat. In the shade. Ideally on an absorbent towel to start with.

Give it time.

When she's dry, she'll thank you - with lubrication and a scent that no longer reminds you of breakfast.

Martin Jud

Senior Editor

martin.jud@digitecgalaxus.ch

I find my muse in everything. When I don’t, I draw inspiration from daydreaming. After all, if you dream, you don’t sleep through life.

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