How to clean your computer mouse

We teach you how to clean your computer mouse so you leave it spotless and forget about that hard-to-remove dirt. At Consum, we teach you.

Peripheral devices, like mice and keyboards, play a crucial role to ensure the experience of using your computer, laptop or desktop, is the best it can be. But we mustn’t forget about cleaning them. In the case of the mouse, it is important to prevent the build-up of dirt from affecting its functions. Ideally, it should be cleaned at least once a month.

Types of computer mouse

There are different types and choosing the best one for your preferences and needs is fundamental in order to make computer tasks easier for you. It’s important to know how to choose properly, depending on use and the comfort of each user, since someone working in an office doesn’t use a mouse in the same way as a gamer.

• Rollerball or analogue: are the first ones that came on the market 25 years ago. They are also known as mechanical mice and they had a ball on the bottom that made the mouse work. With advances in technology, the optical mouse has gained ground to completely stamp it out and render it obsolete.
• Mouse with optical sensor: infrared or laser, work thanks to the optical sensors that detect movement and move the cursor. These models replaced the rollerball mouse, as they weren’t very precise and often became stuck. There are some differences between them:
• Infrared sensors are more useful on rougher surfaces, like mats. From a technical viewpoint, these mice only detect the first layer of the surface they move on.
• Laser mice are made to work on smooth surfaces, like glass. They are usually more sensitive to movement and much more precise.
• Ergonomic mouse: perfect for users who spend long periods of time at the computer and need a comfortable device for their hand. They are designed exclusively so the hand doesn’t suffer from pains or discomfort while using them. At first sight, they look a bit strange, but they are really comfortable to use. In recent years, they have become very popular.
  Touch mouse: they work using similar technology to a laptop touchpad. It is usually a rectangle-shaped panel, through which the user handles the cursor, by the intensity of the pressure exerted and across its large glass surface you can drag and move content easily.
• Wireless or wired mouse: depending on their connection, they can either be:
• Wireless: they are small in size and often used with laptops. They are easily transportable and are battery operated or via Bluetooth connection.
• Wired: extremely useful for desktop computers, because it is plugged in at all times, for use at all times.
• 3D mouse: it allows you to make three dimensional movements. Designed for videogame lovers, they aren't yet as successful as expected because they are not particularly useful and they are quite difficult to use.
• Left-handed mouse: any mouse can be configured for left-handed users. You just need to click on the Windows icon and select Search, type ‘mouse’ and select Mouse settings. A drop-down menu will appear, select the main button and choose left or right.
• Mice for gamers: they are designed to make the game experience the best it can possibly be. They are very powerful and easy to use and have certain features to ensure the game is fluid and immersive.
• Multi-touch: this is a mixture between the traditional mouse and touch screens. Not very widely used, since Apple and Microsoft have only just released this type of mouse. They aim to speed up the process and perform different functions simultaneously.

What do you need to clean your mouse?

• Lint-free cloth.
• Alcohol.
• Cotton buds.

How to clean a mouse step by step?

• Always disconnect the device from the computer (or remove the batteries if it’s wireless) before cleaning. Never spray any product directly onto the mouse.
• For optical mice, take a damp cloth (lint-free) and clean the outside of the mouse thoroughly, particularly the four pads it is supported by, which is where the most dirt usually builds up and prevents the mouse from moving freely.
• After cleaning the outside, use a cotton bud wet in alcohol, clean the hole at the bottom that emits the red light. Leave the mouse to dry before using it again.
• To clean a rollerball mouse, the first step is to dismantle it and remove the ball. Clean the ball and mouse on the outside with a cloth wet with alcohol.
• Also clean the inside of the mouse, since the rollers usually accumulate quite a lot of dirt. Use a damp cloth and a cotton bud with alcohol.
• Leave all the components of the mouse to dry thoroughly before cleaning it again.
• If you use a mouse mat, it's also worth cleaning it with a damp cloth and some alcohol.

You may also be interested in… how to clean your keyboard (hyperlink to article)