A mouse pad that feels dull and slow is usually dirty, not dead. SteelSeries says a dirty pad may be the cause of tracking trouble. The washing advice online is a mess, though: one maker says to put the pad in the washing machine, another says never to let it near one.
This guide sorts out who says what for cloth, stitched-edge and RGB pads. It is built from manufacturer care pages, not from washing tests. I did not wash any pad for this article.
Hand wash a plain cloth pad in warm water with a little mild dish soap, rinse out all the soap and dry it flat. Use cold water if you machine wash, and never submerge a pad with a cable or lights. Your maker’s care page overrides every general guide, because brands disagree on machine washing.
📋 Table of Contents
How to wash a mouse pad: the short answer
For a plain cloth pad with no cable, SteelSeries and Glorious both publish a sink or tub wash. Here is the shared version:
- Fill a sink or basin with warm water and lay the pad in it.
- Add a small amount of mild dish soap.
- Scrub gently with a soft brush or sponge. For heavy stains, Glorious says to soak for 5 to 10 minutes first, then scrub again.
- Rinse until no soap is left.
- Press out water with a towel. Glorious does not recommend a hair dryer.
- Dry it flat, cloth side down on a towel (SteelSeries).
Two kinds of pad are exceptions: pads with cables or lights, and pads whose maker says wipe only. Both are covered below.
Evidence basis: care pages, support articles and product FAQs from SteelSeries, Glorious, Logitech, Razer and Corsair, read on October 27, 2026.
Independent evidence: PCGamesN and How-To Geek are cited by name where they add a detail the makers do not, such as how often to clean.
What this is not: I did not wash, photograph or test any pad. There are no GameVexo before-and-after photos, and nothing here is a GameVexo test result.
How conflicts are handled: a manufacturer page outranks a forum post or a retailer listing. Where two makers disagree, both are shown.
Hand wash vs machine: what the makers say
The answer depends on the brand, not just the fabric. Glorious says its original cloth pad is machine washable on cold, low tumble. Its stitched GMP 2 is not. Logitech says not to machine wash its desk mat or mouse pad at all. SteelSeries says manufacturers generally advise against machine washing soft pads, but gives settings for pads marked machine washable.
So “cloth pad” tells you little. A damp wipe is the one method none of these sources forbids. A basin wash is allowed by SteelSeries and Glorious, while Logitech, Razer and the GMP 2 describe wiping.
Printed artwork adds another risk. Glorious says to wash its machine-washable pads with similar colors, and Corsair says to test a cleaner on a small hidden spot first. If your pad is printed, like those in our best anime mouse pads: 5 picks with decent surfaces, test a corner before soaking it.
This table puts the makers’ own wording side by side. It is a comparison of published instructions, not a test.
| Pad | What the maker says | Source | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteelSeries cloth pad | Soak in a basin of warm water with mild dish soap. Machine only if the pad is machine washable: cold, low tumble. | SteelSeries, “How to Clean a Mousepad: Cloth & Fabric” | Allows a full soak |
| Glorious cloth pad (original) | Sink wash, or machine on cold, low tumble. No hot water, no dryer. | Glorious cleaning guide | Allows the machine |
| Glorious GMP 2 (stitched) | Not machine washable. Spot clean with a damp cloth and air dry. | Glorious GMP 2 product page FAQ | Wipe only |
| Logitech desk mat / mouse pad | No washing machine, no tumble dryer. Do not pour liquid on the mat. Wipe with a lightly moistened lint-free cloth. Dry flat. | Logitech Support | Wipe only |
| Razer mouse mats | Wipe with a lint-free microfiber cloth lightly dipped in tap water. For Chroma mats: no washing machine, no running water, do not fold or roll. | Razer Support, answer 845 | Wipe only |
| Corsair pads | Non-RGB: damp cloth with mild soap. RGB: unplug first, then a damp cloth. Dry fully. | Corsair blog | Damp cloth |
| Artisan Ninja FX Zero | Do not machine wash or tumble dry. | Manual summary on manuals.plus (secondary) | Confirm with Artisan |
What temperature does to the backing
No maker I found publishes a test of what heat does to a pad’s backing. This is what is documented:
- SteelSeries: warm water for a hand wash, cold water for a machine.
- Glorious: warm water in the sink, and “do not use hot water” in the machine. It says cold and low tumble keep the pad from warping.
- Logitech: plain tap water for wiping, and no tumble dryer.
- A retailer spec sheet for the SteelSeries QcK Heavy lists a limit of 90°F (30°C). I could not find that figure on SteelSeries’ own pages, so treat it as unconfirmed.
No source gives a number for “warm”. GameVexo’s rule of thumb is lukewarm for hand washing and cold for any machine cycle. That is editorial judgment, not a measurement. It follows the lowest figure any source gives, and staying cooler costs nothing.
Drying: the step the instructions disagree on
Makers agree on flat and away from heat. They disagree on how long.
- A couple of hours: SteelSeries (after a hand wash) and Glorious (RGB pad guide).
- 24 to 36 hours: Glorious (cloth pad) and SteelSeries (machine-washed pads).
- A day or two: How-To Geek, for a fabric pad.
- Never: a tumble dryer (Logitech, Glorious), an iron (Logitech) or a hair dryer (Glorious does not recommend one).
GameVexo’s rule of thumb: if the pad was soaked, wait the longer window. If it was only wiped, the shorter one is plausible. PCGamesN also says not to hang or fold a pad while it dries.
Large pads are the awkward case. PCGamesN suggests a bathtub for a desk pad, and a 900 × 400 mm pad needs a lot of flat space to dry. If you are still choosing one, see our best full-desk mouse pad: xl and xxl picks.
RGB and stitched pads
RGB pads
SteelSeries says not to submerge a wired RGB pad. Its steps:
- Unplug the pad.
- Wipe it with a microfiber cloth soaked in warm, mildly soapy water and wrung out as much as possible.
- Keep moisture off the electronics box, where the cable exits.
- Wipe the soap off with a rinsed, wrung-out cloth.
- Dry it flat, right side up.
Corsair adds two points. Skip paper towels, because small fragments can break off. And go gently around the lighting rim, which is attached to the surface with thin plastic strands that can break. Dry the pad completely before plugging it back in.
Stitched pads
Stitched edges are there to stop fraying. Glorious says its stitched GMP 2 is not machine washable and should be spot cleaned. Artisan’s Ninja FX Zero is listed as stitched and fray resistant by retailer Central Computers. Check Artisan’s own care page before soaking any of its pads. If you are shopping, see our best artisan mouse pads.
When a pad is past saving
Three signs it is time to replace the pad rather than wash it again:
- Marks survive a second wash. PCGamesN says a mark that stays after a second run probably will not come out without something more severe. Corsair says a pad that stays grubby after a few rounds is ready to go.
- Water reached an RGB pad’s electronics box. SteelSeries warns about moisture there. If the lights misbehave afterward, stop using it and check the maker’s warranty.
- Tracking is still poor on a clean, dry pad. Check the mouse first. SteelSeries says dust near the sensor can hurt responsiveness.
How often to wash
No maker I checked publishes a schedule. PCGamesN says a clean once every few months is worthwhile. Logitech suggests dusting the mat by holding it upright and tapping it gently.
A sensible routine, as editorial judgment: dust it often and wash when you see stains, a dull surface, or tracking that feels inconsistent. SteelSeries names a dirty pad as a possible cause of tracking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
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