Silicone mousepads are safe for laminate desks.

Probably. Modern laminate is pretty tough stuff. The non-slip silicone base is designed to grip without leaving residue or reacting with the finish.

The real risk is with cheap mousepads that use low-grade silicone blended with plasticizers. Those can sometimes leach out and stain the surface, especially if your desk gets hot or humid. But that’s rare.

Quick test: put the mousepad down for a week, then check if there’s any sticky mark or discoloration underneath. If not, you’re fine. If there is, toss it and buy a better one — they’re like $10.

Your desk will outlast the mousepad ten times over.