Waterproof mousepads mostly work, but not forever.

Yes and no. A good “waterproof” coating will repel sweat and oils for months, but it’s not permanent.

The coating is usually a thin layer of polyurethane or similar. It works great at first—liquid beads up, wipes off. But your hand’s natural oils and friction slowly break that layer down. After a few months, you’ll see spots where the coating has worn off, usually where your wrist sits or where you grip the mouse. Then it starts absorbing just like a regular cloth pad.

Cheap ones ($10-15) often use a spray-on coating that wears off fast, sometimes in weeks. Decent ones ($20-30) with a bonded coating last longer—six months to a year with daily use. Hard-surface pads (plastic or glass) don’t have this problem at all, but they feel different.

If you sweat a lot or have oily skin, a hard pad might be the better long-term move. Otherwise, expect to replace a cloth waterproof pad every year or so.