Cork mousepads work well on wood — just don't trust the antimicrobial hype

Yes, cork grips a wooden desk without scratching, but the natural antimicrobial properties are mostly marketing fluff.

Cork is soft enough that it won’t dent or scratch wood, even if you press hard while gaming or working. And the texture gives decent grip — most cork mousepads stay put on a smooth desk. That said, if your desk is super slick (like lacquer) or the mousepad is very thin, it can slide a bit under fast movements. A rubber base is grippier, but cork is still fine for everyday use.

As for the antimicrobial claim: cork does contain suberin, a waxy compound that resists mold