Sticky mousepads are usually a mix of sweat and cheap plastic.

Clean it with dish soap and warm water first. If that doesn’t work, the surface has degraded and you need a new one.

The stickiness comes from two things: oils and salts from your wrist and hand soaking into the pad, and the plastic or rubber material itself breaking down. Some cheaper mousepads use plasticizers that migrate to the surface over time, leaving a tacky film. Sweat speeds it up.

Try washing it with mild dish soap and a soft sponge. Let it dry completely. If it’s still sticky, the material is done — no amount of scrubbing will fix chemical breakdown. Buy a pad with a cloth surface next time; they don’t get that tacky feeling.

Don’t waste money on isopropyl alcohol or random solvents. Soap works for the gunk. If the pad feels greasy after cleaning, the plastic has gone bad. Replace it.