How to Clean and Fix a Mouse

Computer mice have been around longer than personal computers, and the basic design doesn't look like it's going away anytime soon. When your mouse starts acting up or stops working altogether, it may just need some simple maintenance.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Distilled Rubbing Alcohol
• Toothpick
• Paper Towel
• Clean, lint-free cloth or soap

Cleaning the mouse

1. Unplug your mouse and flip it over to see what kind it is. The most common type is mechanical; it has a small rubber ball on its underside that rolls on the desk or mouse pad. These kind of mice are notorious for attracting and retaining crud. If your mouse has no ball but a small light, it's optical, so you can skip ahead to step 6.

2. 

   If your mouse has a rubber ball, you can probably release it by rotating a locking ring that holds it in place. Look for an arrow telling you which way to push or twist the locking ring (see A).

3. Remove the ball and carefully clean it with a lint-free cloth or soap and water. Dry it carefully.

4. 

   If you find crud in the mouse case too, scrape it off with a toothpick (see B) or, if you're desperate, a fingernail.

5. Put the mouse back together.

6. Clean your optical mouse occasionally with distilled rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. This type of mouse stays clean longer.

Other possible mouse problems

1. Check the mouse connection at the back of the PC. Is the cable plugged firmly into the correct port? Most newer PCs have a port labeled for the mouse.

2. If the mouse cable looks damaged, borrow a mouse from someone else's computer and see if it works with yours. If it does, then your mouse needs to be replaced.

Tips & Warnings

• Occasionally washing your mouse pad with a mild soap-and-water solution will help keep your mouse from getting dirty in the first place.