Clean it first, but replace it when the glide is gone

Clean it first, but replace it when the glide is gone.

Clean it first, but replace it when the glide is gone — that’s the rule.

Cloth mousepads get nasty. Oils, dead skin, crumbs. A quick wash with mild soap and water usually fixes it. I’ve revived pads that looked like crime scenes.

But if the surface is frayed, the edges are peeling, or there’s a permanent rough spot where your wrist sits, cleaning won’t help. Also: if the rubber base has lost its grip and slides around your desk, or if you’ve washed it twice and it still feels sticky or uneven, it’s done.

The mouse should glide smoothly. If it doesn’t, and cleaning didn’t fix it, toss it.

A good cloth pad is like $15. Don’t suffer through a bad one.