20.5 Cleaning a Mouse
No, we don't put
mice
through the dishwasher, although we may try that at some point.
Optical mice are sealed units, and so require little more than an
occasional wipe with a damp cloth. How often you need to clean a
mechanical mouse depends on your working environment. Barbara, a true
neatnik, needs to clean her mechanical mouse only every couple of
months. Robert, who smokes a pipe, needs to clean his mechanical mice
every few days.
The best sign that your mouse needs to be cleaned is when mouse
movement suddenly becomes jerky or intermittent, particularly if the
problem is limited to one direction. A mouse has two cylindrical
rollers, one each to capture horizontal and vertical movement, and
may also have one or more idler wheels designed to keep the ball in
position. Dirt on these rollers and wheels is normally the cause of
jerkiness and other movement problems. The best way
we've found to clean a mouse requires only a soft
cloth, an old toothbrush and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Take the
following steps:
Dampen the cloth with alcohol and use it to wipe down the mouse cord
and the exterior of the mouse.
Remove the plate that retains the ball and allow the ball to drop
into your hand. Use the damp cloth to clean the ball and plate
thoroughly and set them aside.
With the mouse upside down and using a strong light, look down into
the hole normally occupied by the ball. Blow or shake out any large
fluff balls or other accumulated trash.
Dip the toothbrush in alcohol and use it to scrub the rollers and
wheels thoroughly, making sure to get them clean from end to end and
all around their circumference. Because of the rolling action, hair
and fibers can become knitted in a mat around the rollers, to the
point where they're almost welded to the roller. If
the toothbrush won't remove the mat, use the edge of
a sharp knife gently to break up the mat without
scratching the roller and then use the toothbrush to remove the freed
junk.
If the mouse has a wheel, the bottom of the wheel is probably
accessible from within the mouse housing. Use your finger to press
the dampened cloth against the bottom of the wheel while you rotate
the wheel from the top to remove accumulated grunge.
While you're at it, use the damp cloth to clean the
mouse pad and the desk immediately surrounding it.
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