How to Clean a Computer Mouse

Sometimes the cursor on your screen will feel out of sync. You don't have to call a technician to fix the problem, or send your computer back to the manufacturer or store. You just might need to perform a quick cleaning on that instrument in your hand.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Unplug the mouse from the computer. If cleaning an embedded laptop trackball, make sure the power is turned off.
2. Open the roller compartment. Locate the donut ring that keeps the ball inside the bottom of the mouse. Use the finger grooves to rotate it clockwise (in the direction of the arrows) as you would a combination lock. Tilt the mouse to release the ring and ball into your hand.
3. Clean the ball with soapy water and dry completely.
4. Clean the internal rollers thoroughly. If this is the first time you have dissected an electronic mouse, you might be surprised to find several small rollers inside where the ball usually rests. These sense the motion of the ball to direct the cursor on your screen. Look more carefully to find the most common cause of a sticky mouse: rings of gunk stuck to the rollers. Use the edge of your fingernail to remove the grime.
5. Reassemble your mouse. After making sure that all the loosened dirt is gently tapped out of the mouse, lock the ball back into place by turning the ring cover counterclockwise, or the opposite direction of the guiding arrows. Make sure it clicks completely closed.
6. Plug the mouse back in and look for an improvement in the cursor's responsiveness.

Tips & Warnings

• Dirt buildup on a mouse's inner wheels occurs naturally, but you can keep this to a minimum by using a clean mouse pad for your rolling surface.
• If your cursor is still moving in jagged or lagging patterns on your screen, check the computer settings or consider replacing the mouse (perhaps upgrading to an infrared model).
• You can use alcohol and a small cloth or swab to clean especially stubborn rollers. Isopropyl is recommended, as malt will only make the problem worse.

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