Replace your cloth mousepad every six months.

Every six months is a good rule of thumb if you want consistent glide. Cloth pads collect skin oils, dust, and dead skin cells that slowly turn into a sticky film. That film makes your mouse feel sluggish and inconsistent.

If you game heavily or work in a dusty environment, swap it every three to four months. Wash it first to see if it helps, but once the fibers are matted down, washing won’t bring back the original glide.

You’ll know it’s time when the cursor starts skipping or you feel drag where there wasn’t any before. Don’t wait until it’s visibly dirty—by then the performance is already gone.

Your mousepad is cheaper than a new mouse.