Your waterproof mousepad's coating will start failing in 3-6 months.

About 3 to 6 months, if you spill coffee on it daily.

The coating on most waterproof mousepads is just a thin urethane or silicone layer. Hot coffee or tea seeps into the edges, the heat softens the coating, and daily wiping scrapes it off over time. After a few months, you’ll notice liquid beading up less — eventually you’ll get a wet spot that soaks through.

Cheap ones from Amazon might last two months. A well-made one (like from a reputable desk mat brand) might stretch to a year. But they’re all consumables. The waterproofing is a temporary feature, not a lifetime guarantee.

Treat it like a sponge. It works until it doesn’t.