# Compuer mouse and rapeseed oil? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2022, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625 "2022-01-29T08:17:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/1 "2022-01-29T08:17:52Z")
My mouse for my PC has a seriously hardened scroll wheel. Its happened over time, its like pushing and pulling in molasses. I wondered about lubricating it, maybe with my bicycle oil or my food oil. Does it sound doable to you guys? I realize that too might cause a short circuit, but what about a very small amount?Just like drip a few drops onto the wheel and let it sink in? I dont really dare right now. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/2 "2022-01-29T10:34:41Z")
Probably opening the case and cleaning out accumulated gunk would be a better approach. ---
**Author:** ![Loggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/3 "2022-01-29T13:44:17Z")
Ill try that ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/4 "2022-01-29T13:47:20Z")
If it’s not a financial hardship, buy a laser mouse. No balls to get dirty. Here’s [one](https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-M525-Wireless-Mouse-Micro-Precision/dp/B005KSAHZU/ref=sxin_15_ac_d_mf_br?ac_md=1-0-TG9naXRlY2g%3D-ac_d_mf_br_br&crid=1OPIVODYC2ZBS&cv_ct_cx=laser+mouse+wireless&keywords=laser+mouse+wireless&pd_rd_i=B005KSAHZU&pd_rd_r=4c140ff1-3955-4f49-95b8-b35057318900&pd_rd_w=0ddon&pd_rd_wg=ilCbB&pf_rd_p=17756b3a-4504-468b-830d-8b5875afd168&pf_rd_r=70CVRQTK475SRDR1YE5J&psc=1&qid=1643463925&sprefix=laser+mouse%2Caps%2C396&sr=1-1-ed8a42d3-65f1-4884-a3a2-0dd6e83b6876) to look at. As long as the surface is not featureless, like perhaps glass, they work very well. ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/5 "2022-01-29T13:49:30Z")
Had a sticky mouse wheel, developed over time as you describe. Gave it a spritz of electrical contact cleaner, and the plastic wheel rim swelled to completely jam the mechanism. Be prepared to buy a new mouse. Dan ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/6 "2022-01-29T13:59:54Z")
I second the advice to buy a laser mouse. You can probably make your mouse work by removing the ball and cleaning it and the contacts. But mechanical mice get dirty, skip, and just don’t work as well as laser mice. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/7 "2022-01-29T15:25:48Z")
Perhaps slip an exacto blade along each side of the scroll wheel? It’s probably just got a bunch of skin cells and gunk on it. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/8 "2022-01-29T15:40:59Z")
Since ball mice haven’t really been on the market in 20 years, I’m going to reiterate for the OP that they’re talking about the _scroll wheel_. I do think you’ll get better results taking it apart and cleaning/lubricating just the axle, especially since you don’t want the wheel itself to get greasy. ---
**Author:** ![Delayed\_Reflex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/delayed_reflex/32/3172_2.png) [@Delayed\_Reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delayed_Reflex)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/9 "2022-01-29T15:47:00Z")
Agree with the recommendations to clean it out first if possible. However, if you do think you want to try lubricating it, I would definitely NOT use any sort of food oil - they will degrade over time and gunk up your mouse even worse. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/10 "2022-01-29T15:53:40Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Since ball mice haven’t really been on the market in 20 years, I’m going to reiterate for the OP that they’re talking about the _scroll wheel_ . Thank you. I thought I had entered a time warp of some sort where ball mice were still being used and laser mice were state-of-the-art technology. Absolutely no on the vegetable oil – I’d open it and try to clean it out maybe with rubbing alcohol but, most likely, I’d just go to Target and drop $10-20 on a new mouse. ETA: Here’s a tutorial I’ve found for Logitech mouses to see what’s involved. > **[How to Fix a Sticky Scroll Wheel on a Logitech Mouse - groovyPost](https://www.groovypost.com/howto/fix-unresponsive-logitech-mouse-wheel/)** > > How is your mouse wheel holding up? If it’s sticking or just not working as well as when you first got it, here's how to go in and fix it. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/11 "2022-01-29T16:36:37Z")
Yes, this is a ‘clean out the gunk’ and not an ‘add more goop’ issue. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/12 "2022-01-29T19:51:05Z")
I wouldn’t have thought that someone still uses a mechanical mouse, but as others have said, when they became wonky, I always took out the ball and cleaned the vertical and horizontal wheels from gunk, with my fingernails. But I’m in the camp of those that recommend getting a new mouse, my good and reliable optical, cableless Logitech mouse cost around € 12 or so. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/13 "2022-01-29T19:55:11Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Yes, this is a ‘clean out the gunk’ and not an ‘add more goop’ issue. I’ll second that. But if you decide you really really want to keep this mouse, and really really want to lubricate it, use an oil designed for lubrication. Most food oils (all food oils?) will oxidize and create a hard polymer that would protect your cast iron, but make your mouse wheel worse. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/14 "2022-01-29T20:25:22Z")
My scroll wheel stopped working reliably. I confidently opened everything up and removed a bunch of lint and similar gunk. I also got too aggressive and dislodged some springs and smaller components that I couldn’t figure out how to put together again. So clean, but be gentle… ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/15 "2022-01-29T20:26:33Z")
I’ve had success restoring mouse wheels by opening the mice up and cleaning out the gunk. Like Folly said, though, be gentle and patient. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/16 "2022-01-31T19:51:15Z")
I think the OP means the wheel on top of the mouse that allows you to scroll pages. Do they still make the ones with the roller ball on the bottom? I don’t think I’ve seen any non-optical ones for a decade, or maybe two. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/17 "2022-02-01T04:52:15Z")
You are correct. I missed the word scroll in the OP. 😳 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/18 "2022-02-01T04:54:01Z")
Damned, me too 🤦‍♂️, so sorry to the OP for my misguided post above. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compuer-mouse-and-rapeseed-oil/958625/19 "2022-02-01T06:15:56Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > No balls to get dirty. Ah, If only. A Pipe-Dream, I assure you!