Sweat and skin oil build up in a mouse pad until the mouse starts to drag. Most cloth pads wash clean in the sink, but a few brands say never to soak theirs.
Quick answer: Most cloth mouse pads can be hand-washed: soak the pad in a sink of warm water with a few drops of dish soap, scrub with a soft brush or sponge, rinse until no suds remain, press the water out in a towel and air-dry it flat for 24 hours. Razer and Logitech mats, RGB pads, desk mats and hard or glass pads get a damp-cloth wipe.
Which mouse pad do you have?
Pad (also called a mousepad or mouse mat) | What to do |
|---|---|
Cloth gaming pad with a rubber base, such as SteelSeries or Glorious | Hand-wash in the sink (below); both brands give this method |
Razer cloth mat | Wipe with a microfibre cloth and a little tap water: Razer says no running water and no washing machine |
Logitech desk mat or mouse pad | Damp-cloth wipe, with a little soap for stains: Logitech rules out the washing machine and tumble dryer |
Cloth desk mat too big for the sink | Wipe-wash it on the desk (below) |
Vegan-leather desk mat, such as Orbitkey | Damp cloth; a pea-sized dab of mild detergent for stains, as Orbitkey advises |
Hard plastic or rubber pad | A wet wipe or damp cloth, as SteelSeries notes |
Glass pad, such as Razer Atlas | A warm, damp cloth, as Razer recommends |
RGB or wired pad (Razer Chroma, SteelSeries QcK Prism) | Unplug, then wipe-wash only: SteelSeries says never submerge it |
Not sure | Wipe-wash: it suits every type |
How to hand-wash a cloth mouse pad
You need a sink or tub, mild dish soap, a soft brush or sponge, and a bath towel.
- Shake or brush off loose dust and crumbs. Logitech suggests holding a mat upright and tapping it gently.
- Fill the sink with warm water and add a few drops of mild dish soap. SteelSeries says a little goes a long way.
- Submerge the pad and scrub the whole surface with the brush or sponge. For heavy stains, Glorious suggests a 5 to 10 minute soak, then another gentle scrub.
- Rinse under the tap until no suds come out. Glorious stresses getting every trace of soap off.
- Lay the pad on the towel, fold the towel over and press to soak up the water. Don't wring, fold or roll the pad itself: Razer warns against folding, rolling or compressing its mats.
- Leave it to air-dry flat on a dry towel, cloth side down as SteelSeries does, for 24 hours before use (Glorious suggests 24 to 36). Keep it out of direct sun, as Razer and SteelSeries advise, and skip the hair dryer, which Glorious doesn't recommend.
While it dries, wipe the desk underneath: How to Clean Your Desk and Keep It Organised covers each surface type.
Done looks like: an even colour, no tacky or shiny patches, and a rubber base that feels completely dry before the mouse goes back on.
Can you put a mouse pad in the washing machine?
Only if its maker calls it machine-washable. Glorious says its cloth pads are: wash them cold on a low tumble setting with a dash of detergent, with similar colours, then air-dry rather than using the dryer. SteelSeries gives the same settings for machine-washable pads but notes that many makers advise against machine-washing soft pads. Logitech and Razer both say never machine-wash theirs.
How to wipe-wash a desk mat, RGB, glass or leather-look pad
- Unplug an RGB or wired pad first, as Razer instructs.
- Brush off loose crumbs.
- Add a drop of dish soap to a bowl of warm water. Dampen a microfibre cloth in it and wring it out well. Use a white or pale cloth: Razer warns that a coloured one can transfer dye.
- Wipe the surface, working stubborn spots in small circles, as SteelSeries does for desk mats.
- Go over it with a cloth dampened in clean water, repeating until no soap remains (Logitech's method).
- Leave it flat to dry in a well-ventilated spot out of direct sun. Logitech also rules out ironing its mats. Plug an RGB pad back in only once it's completely dry, as Razer advises.
On a glass pad, plain warm water on the cloth is enough; Razer also says to keep the mat on a flat, level surface. On vegan leather, skip leather conditioner: Orbitkey says it isn't suitable because the mat isn't genuine leather, and that solvents can ruin the surface.
Popular mouse pad cleaning methods, checked
Method | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
Washing machine | Only for pads sold as machine-washable | Glorious allows it; Logitech and Razer rule it out |
Tumble dryer | No | Logitech and Glorious both say air-dry |
Wet wipes | Yes on hard pads | SteelSeries says plastic and rubber pads wipe clean; Logitech also allows fragrance-free wipes on its fabric mats |
Strong solvents or abrasive cleaners | No | Logitech says they can discolour a mat's polyester surface |
How to clean your mouse
- Unplug a wired mouse. Switch a wireless one off and take out any replaceable batteries; Logitech says to wait 5 to 10 seconds before cleaning.
- Wipe the shell and buttons with a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with tap water, as Apple and Logitech both advise. Never spray the mouse or let water into the seams; Logitech says never submerge it.
- For grime, Logitech allows alcohol wipes under 25%. For stubborn marks it allows isopropyl alcohol or a melamine sponge, after testing a hidden spot, because both can discolour plastic or remove printing. Apple allows 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes on its hard surfaces.
- Isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable (Diggers' safety data sheet classes it H225), so use it on the cloth with the mouse off, away from flames, and let it evaporate first.
- If the pointer jumps, turn the mouse over and check the sensor window under a bright light. Apple's fix for hair or debris there is a gentle puff of compressed air.
- Puff compressed air into the gaps around the scroll wheel and buttons. SteelSeries says gunk there can cause lag and unregistered clicks.
- Wipe the feet (the smooth pads underneath) with the damp cloth. Razer says clean feet give the best glide.
Done looks like: no shiny film on the buttons, and smooth, even tracking on the clean pad. The keyboard and screen beside it have their own guides: How to Clean a Keyboard and How to Clean a Computer Screen.
How often to clean a mouse pad and mouse
Wash or wipe the pad when the glide feels uneven or the pointer skips: SteelSeries says a dirty pad may be behind tracking problems. Logitech suggests cleaning its devices daily, weekly or monthly, more often if they're light coloured.
When to stop
If an RGB pad won't light up after cleaning, we'd suggest unplugging it and leaving it to dry for longer before trying again; if it still fails, contact the brand's support. Washing mouse pads and other desk gear isn't on Simply Maid's cleaning checklist; our regular cleans dust accessible surfaces and shelves.
Frequently asked questions
Can water damage a mouse pad?
A plain cloth pad with a rubber base handles a soak, which is why SteelSeries and Glorious wash theirs in the sink. An RGB or wired pad is different: SteelSeries says never submerge one. Any pad needs to dry completely: SteelSeries allows 24 to 36 hours after a machine wash to prevent water damage.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026 · Update history
Sources & References
- SteelSeries, How to Clean a Mousepad: Cloth & Fabric (13 March 2020): hand-washing steps, drying, machine settings, desk mats, hard pads, RGB pads, dirty mice.
- Glorious, How to Clean Your Gaming Mouse Pad: sink method, soak time, no hair dryer, 24 to 36 hour drying, machine washing.
- Logitech Support, Cleaning the Logitech Desk Mat / Mouse Pad: no washing machine or tumble dryer, damp cloth and soap, no ironing.
- Logitech Support, Cleaning your Logitech device: mice wiped with a water-damp cloth, under 25% alcohol, hidden-spot test, how often.
- Razer, How to clean your Razer peripherals (video transcript, PDF, 2024): no washing machine or running water, no folding, no direct sun, coloured cloths, Chroma mats, mouse feet.
- Razer, Razer Atlas glass mouse mat: warm, damp cloth; flat surface.
- Orbitkey Australia, How do I clean the Desk Mat?: vegan leather, mild detergent, no conditioner.
- Apple Support (Australia), How to clean your Apple products (31 October 2025): mice wiped with a water-damp cloth; sensor window and compressed air; 70% alcohol wipes.
- Recochem (Diggers), Isopropyl Alcohol safety data sheet (PDF, 2022): highly flammable (H225).
