# Mouse hygiene **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 27, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005 "2001-10-27T21:47:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/1 "2001-10-27T21:47:49Z")
I have gunk accumulating inside my mouse, on the two control bars and the guide wheel, where the ball rubs against them. It’s easy enough to pick away the gunk on the control bars, but the guide wheel is another story - it’s too fragile for one. Any sprays, solutions, etc. out there I can use to get rid of the gunk and therefore let my mouse move smoothly? Any other suggestions? Thanks, Sua ---
**Author:** ![Ariadne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71c47a/32.png) [@Ariadne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ariadne)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/2 "2001-10-27T21:59:13Z")
I use a sewing needle to clean the smallest parts of my mouse. It’s great for coaxing the guck out of the wheel and the little springs inside the mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/3 "2001-10-27T22:05:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*If a mouse fails to operate or should it perform erratically, it may need a ball replacement. Because of the delicate nature of this procedure, replacement of mouse balls should only be attempted by trained personnel. > > Before proceeding, determine the type of mouse balls by examining the underside of the mouse. Domestic balls will be larger and harder than foreign balls. Ball removal procedures differ depending upon the manufacturer of the mouse. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop-off method. Domestic balls are replaced using the twist-off method. Mouse balls are not usually static sensitive. However, excessive handling can result in sudden discharge. Upon completion of ball replacement, the mouse can be used immediately. > > It is recommended that each replacer have a pair of spare balls for maintaining optimum customer satisfaction, and that any customer missing his balls should suspect local personnel of removing these necessary items. \*\* [sub]Yeah, I know it’s an old joke, but I couldn’t resist\* ---
**Author:** ![Free\_Refill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@Free\_Refill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Free_Refill)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/4 "2001-10-27T22:07:46Z")
“I have gunk accumulating inside my mouse” feed it less cheese and more seeds. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/5 "2001-10-27T23:08:16Z")
Get an optical mouse - you won’t regret it. ---
**Author:** ![2nd\_guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/d07c76/32.png) [@2nd\_guest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2nd_guest)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/6 "2001-10-27T23:13:48Z")
Don’t use a Qtip, since it leaves long thread lint. Use a kleenex dipped in alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/7 "2001-10-27T23:42:41Z")
I second the optical mouse suggestion. I got mine for $30 and love it. BUT, to address the OP - specifically for the spring-loaded guide wheel, you probably need two sets of tweezers: one to hold the thing in place and the other to scrape/pull the crud off. I’ve also had to take a whole mouse apart for cleaning on several occasions in the past when just de-gunking the rollers and the wheel didn’t do the job - at the end of each roller is a disk with slits around the rim (it’s called an encoder, IIRC), which spins between a light emitter and receiver, and the mouse knows how far it’s moved by counting the slits that have passed in front of the emitter/receiver as the disk rotates. Anyway, sometimes the slits can get dirty or the gap between the light emitter/receiver gets gunk caught in between so that the mouse can’t count properly any longer, which is when you’ll need to perform this surgery. If you decide to go this route, just be careful that the sping doesn’t bounce off and disappear. ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/8 "2001-10-28T00:49:48Z")
I use an x-acto knife and scrape the crude to the side and then blow it out. Don’t need to hold the wheel with tweezers or anything else. I can turn the wheel with the knife as I scrape. The wheel does move a little on the spring as I scrape, but doesn’t present a problem for me. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/9 "2001-10-28T02:39:50Z")
if dry, compressed air – comes in cans at photo shops if gunk, compressed air including a contact cleaner – comes in cans at photo shops and electroncs shops ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/10 "2001-10-28T02:46:53Z")
I open my mouse with a screwdriver and clean it out that way. Works wonders. ---
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/11 "2001-10-28T03:11:54Z")
I agree; x-acto knife works well. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2001, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-hygiene/90005/12 "2001-10-28T17:32:05Z")
Thanks all - several very good suggestions. Sua