Your computer mouse contains a lot of bacteria and maybe even viruses, especially if it hasn’t been cleaned in eons. All the sweat and dirt from your hands clogged up on a single device is not healthy at all; therefore, you should make efforts to clean your PC, mouse and keyboard every week or on a monthly basis.
How to clean your computer mouse
So, you might be wondering what the best ways are to clean your mouse to ensure a germ-free environment. In this article, we will talk about all the key things you need to know to keep your computer mouse from becoming the best home for bacteria to strive.
- Clean your mouse with water
- Clean your mouse with alcohol
- Best times to clean your mouse
Let us discuss this from a more detailed point of view
1] Clean your mouse with water
OK, so the easiest method is to clean your house with water. It is not the best way compared to alcohol, but seeing as water is more easily accessible, we’ve decided to discuss it first.
Now, before we begin, you will need to equip yourself with multiple Q-tips, a toothpick, a cup of water, and a dry rag.
The first step is to unplug the mouse from your computer to avoid any electrical issues. If the mouse is wireless, then please turn it off. From there, dip the Q-tip into the water and use it to wipe down the mouse’s body. Be sure to get to the mouse wheel and the sensor.
From the cracks and lines where the Q-tip is not able to clean properly, you will want to use the toothpick to remove all dirt and grime from those areas.
Finally, wipe the mouse down with the dry cloth, and that’s it for that.
Read: Things that can damage your Computer and shorten its life.
2] Clean your mouse with alcohol
Keeping your mouse clean with alcohol is the best option here due to the anti-bacterial properties it contains.
So, you will want to follow the same steps as above. Unplug your mouse, or turn it off if it is a Bluetooth device. From there, dip the Q-tip into the alcohol and use it to clean the body of the mouse. Be sure to rub the wheel and the sensor, especially where your palm interacts the most.
Once you’re done, use the toothpick to get into areas where the Q-tip is unable to reach.
The final thing you should do now is to wipe it down with the dry cloth,, and you’re good to go.
3] Best times to clean your mouse
As we’ve mentioned above, the best time to clean your mouse is either weekly or monthly. For example, if you are an avid gamer, you will release a lot of sweat onto the mouse, which can cause sickness, therefore, clean your mouse every week.
For everybody else, a per monthly basis should be good enough.
Bear in mind that a dirty mouse can be a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause disease. This is even more dangerous if you share your mouse with others.
Read next: How to clean your keyboard and keep it free from bacteria and viruses.