Isopropyl alcohol can ruin your mousepad's surface.

Yes, it can. Cleaning a mousepad with isopropyl alcohol is risky, especially if it has a hydrophobic coating. The alcohol can break down that coating over time, leaving the surface sticky, uneven, or just less effective at repelling water and oils.

Most “premium” gaming or performance mousepads (think Steelseries, Logitech, or any with a hard or cloth hybrid surface) use a thin chemical coating for smooth glide and water resistance. IPA is a solvent, and it can strip that coating after a few cleanings. Even on a cheap cloth pad, alcohol can sometimes dissolve the binder that holds the fibers together, leaving a weird tacky texture when it dries.

If you just need to degrease a matte plastic hard pad once, a tiny bit of diluted IPA might be okay, but I’d still avoid it. Stick to warm water and a drop of mild dish soap. That cleans everything without eating your coating.

For cloth pads, scrub gently with soap and water, let it air dry flat. Alcohol is overkill and might cost you a new pad.