Mouse Care and Cleaning

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On newer machines with optical mice (no ball and red LED (Light Emitting Diode)) there is minimal cleaning.  Older mice that contain rollers and balls will have to be cleaned more often.  Both still need their outside plastic cleaned to maintain their physical appearance. 

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THE MOUSE COMPONENTS

Below is a mouse with a ball that is taken apart for the photo. From left to right the parts are: the mouse, the ball, and the retaining ring.	Below is the bottom of an optical mouse.  An optical mouse does not contain a ball, has non removable parts, and tracks with an a bright red LED.

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TAKING THE MOUSE APART-Non Optical Mice

The picture below is of a mouse being taken apart. To open it up, turn the retaining ring counter clockwise and it will unlock. To reassemble the mouse, reinsert the ball and turn the retaining ring clockwise.

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CLEANING THE ROLLERS- Non-Optical Mice

Once the mouse is taken apart, it is time to clean it. The first parts that will be cleaned are the rollers. To clean the rollers use rubbing alcohol. Dampen a Q-Tip with alcohol and wipe the rollers clean. Also, be sure to remove any foreign objects (crumbs, dust bunnies, etc..) from inside the mouse. Take the time clean the ball while it is out, as well.

To clean the ball, fill the palm of your hand with water, not alcohol. Water is used because the water will not harden the rubber of the ball, alcohol will over time. Roll the ball around in your hand and scrub it in the water, until the dirt is off. When you are finished cleaning the ball, rinse it off in the sink and dry it.  After it dries, the ball is ready to be put back in the mouse. To reinstall the ball, follow the above directions in reverse.  Once installed use a lightly dampened lint free cloth to clean the bottom.

To clean the outer plastic of the mouse, rubbing alcohol works very well because it does not leave a residue. Endust for Electronics works well too, but is more expensive and generally not around the house. Test your cleaner first in an inconspicuous area in case it reacts poorly with the plastic. Lightly dampen a soft, lint free cloth and rub off any marks. When cleaning an optical mice, avoid the LED with alcohol.

An optical mouse has no moving parts, so cleaning one is fairly straightforward.  Use a dry Q-Tip to remove any dust or foreign objects from the LED.  After the LED is clean, use a clean, lint free cloth to remove anything from the bottom of the mouse.

THE MOUSE PAD-All Mice

The final, and often overlooked, item to clean and maintain is the mousepad itself.  If the mousepad is dirty it will pickup dirt and put it right back into the mouse.  Depending on the material of the pad, usually water and a clean lint free cloth are all that is required.  After cleaning the pad, make sure it is completely dry and free from lint.  If the mousepad is coming apart, replace it.  Mice depend on fairly smooth surfaces to track properly.  Rough or dirty surfaces will cause the mouse to track erratically.