Accidents happen, and if you are one of those who have coffee or any other drink while you use the PC, even more so. The mouse pad is one of those PC peripherals that often go unnoticed when it comes to cleaning tasks, but there will come a time when it is too dirty (or, as we said, you have spilled something) and you want to clean it. Can the mat be put in the washing machine? Next we take you out of doubts.
There are several ways to clean the rug without damaging it, but in this article what we are going to try is to discern if something is going to happen to it by putting it directly in the washing machine, since in fact it is the fastest and easiest way and, surely, the first thing that will occur to more than one when it comes to having to clean it.
Mat in the washing machine: yes, but in cold water
First of all, you should keep in mind that the vast majority of PC mouse pads are actually made using at least three materials: a non-slip rubber base, fabric on the surface, and glue between the two to hold them together (many they also have sewn edges, but it is still a type of fabric). And it is precisely this glue that can cause the disaster if you are not careful when putting the mat in the washing machine.
For this reason, the only precaution you have to take into account when putting the rug in the washing machine is to select a program that washes cold , always at 30ºC or less, since above that temperature, the glue will soften and the The cloth will peel off the rubber, most likely rendering the mat unusable. Beyond that, you just have to take the usual precautions, such as not using any abrasive products, much less bleach .
If you are wondering if you should wash the mat alone or if you can put it with the rest of your clothes, the answer is also very simple: as we have mentioned, it needs to be washed cold and, therefore, it is very unlikely that it will fade . For this reason, there shouldn’t be any kind of problem washing the mat with the rest of your clothes (this way you take advantage of the washing while you’re at it).
Never use the dryer
Once the wash is complete, simply lay the mat out to dry as normal. What you should never do is put it in a dryer , since, as we have mentioned before, the high temperatures will make the glue soften and the fabric come off: this would be a huge mistake that will necessarily mean that your mat will completely spoil.
Depending on the thickness of the mat, it may take more or less time to dry, but in general it will take a little longer than normal clothes because they tend to be relatively thick. In any case, another recommendation that we are going to give you is that you do not let it dry in the sun , since it could lose part of its color and even in case of extreme heat, it could also soften the glue.
