(Credit: René Ramos; Shutterstock/Maridav)
Like a real mouse, your computer mouse roams around, picking up crumbs and other things along the way. The difference is that real mice bathe themselves. When refreshing the tech you use every day, it's easy to overlook your peripherals, but your mouse needs the same care and attention given to your keyboard or AirPods.
To keep your undervalued input device in tip-top shape, you have to know what type of mouse you have, then gather the appropriate supplies and get to scrubbing. When you’re done, both you and your mouse are going to function a lot better. Make sure you have a clean work surface and some basic items around: Compressed air, a lint-free cloth, a toothpick or spudger (a pointed plastic stick), and alcohol wipes.
Optical/Laser Mouse
Make sure your mouse is fully powered off. If your mouse is wired, unplug it. If it takes batteries, there should be a switch to turn the device off. Then use a can of compressed air to gently clean the LED. If there is a battery compartment, remove the batteries and do a quick cleanout with compressed air or a dry, lint-free cloth—don't use anything wet here.
Then take a toothpick or spudger and run it through any grooves on the mouse. Gaming mice typically have extra buttons, so make sure to move through each one. If there's a scroll wheel, make sure you give it a full spin or two while you do this. Give everything a blast of compressed air to loosen any remaining debris. Wipe down the mouse's surface with an alcohol wipe or a lightly moistened, lint-free cloth. If you go the cloth route, go over the surface with a dry cloth after.
Trackball Mouse
Trackballs are gliding over surfaces or under fingertips every day, so they can get especially grody. If you have a wired trackball mouse, disconnect it before you start cleaning. If you have one that has removable batteries, remove them.
Next, remove the trackball from its housing. Some trackballs, particularly the kind that have the trackball on top, simply pop out. Other types of trackballs, especially those on the underside of a mouse, require that you twist the housing off. This usually does not require a tool. Go over the ball itself with either an alcohol wipe or a lightly moistened, lint-free cloth. Then take some compressed air and clean out the inside of the housing, and go over it with the cloth.
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Take a toothpick or spudger and run it through all the crevices of the mouse. If things still seem stuck, use compressed air to loosen them up. Then use a damp, lint-free cloth or an alcohol wipe to go over the whole surface. Replace the trackball, and you should be good to go.
Vertical Mouse
Vertical ergonomic mice, like the Logitech Lift, can be the cure to aching wrists, but they are also a pain in the neck when it comes to cleaning. As with all other mice, the first thing you’ll want to do is either disconnect it from its power source. If you feel like there’s a high chance that crumbs have made their way inside the mouse, follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to disassemble it. Clean out the inside with compressed air and a dry microfiber cloth, then go over the outside with a damp microfiber cloth. When everything is dry, put it back together.
If you don't want to break down your mouse and feel that just a surface cleaning would do it some good, take a toothpick or spudger and go through all the grooves. Spray some compressed air over the surface and all areas where dust and dirt can get in, then go over the mouse with a dampened microfiber cloth.
One thing to note: There are complaints online about certain coatings on these mice that can pick up dirt. There doesn't seem to be a good solution to improving its look, but follow this cleaning guide, and just know it will be cleaner even if it doesn't look spotless.
Chandra Steele contributed to this story.