Wash your cloth mousepad every 3-4 months.

That’s the sweet spot for consistent glide without wrecking the fibers. Wash it more often and you’re just wearing it out faster. Less often and you’re dragging your mouse through a layer of dead skin and coffee dust.

When you do wash it, hand wash with mild soap in lukewarm water. Don’t scrub aggressively. Don’t use hot water. Don’t machine wash or dry unless the manufacturer literally tells you it’s okay (most don’t). Rinse thoroughly, press out water (don’t wring), then let it air dry flat. That keeps the glide intact.

If your mouse feels sticky or the tracking is erratic before three months, you live in a gross environment and need to clean it early. Otherwise, stick to the schedule.

Your mouse pad doesn’t need a spa day every week. Three months is plenty.