My optical scroll mouse just took a dip in my foot massager!

Factual Questions
1

It was a cunning scheme, to bring my computer, foot massager, space heater, mini-fridge and favorite armchair together in what I’d hoped to be the most decandent comfort the winter could offer! Alas, I did not account for gravity.

The optical mouse seemed to half-work after that – I could use it left click and right click menus but not move the cursor around on the screen or on amy of the menu choices. I switched to this old mouse (get this – with a rubber ball. Primitive!) from my old computer.

So: is this optical mouse done for? Or can I dry it out and hope for the best?

2

Well, just as with a real mouse that got accidentally wet, don’t put it into the microwave to dry it out.

Hey, they’re only ten bucks. Or so. Consider it a life lesson.

I’d want to think twice before using any electronic devices while soaking my feet in a puddle, but maybe that’s just me.

3

You’re assuming he has a $10 optical mouse?

4

Sorry, the $10 figure was a WAG. They’re actually $20.

5

How long did you let it dry out? Try blowing some compressed air into it to speed up the drying. If it still acts quirky, time to chuck it. I sort of miss my old non-optical mouse. I don’t miss that rolling ball, but at least it didn’t require new batteries about once a month or so.

6

If you had epsom salts or other additives in your foot bath, you should dunk the mouse in tap water before letting it dry.

7

Optical mice don’t need batteries. Wireless mice need batteries.

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The More You Know

8

I let it dry out a couple of hours, plugged it back in. It’s definitely acting wonky. There’s also something small rattling around the inside I don’t remember hearing before. So I guess I’ll have to get a new mouse. Pity: I did a nice job cocooning myself in for the winter snows and Christmas shopping. I wasn’t planning on leaving the house from today until the day after Christmas!

I don’t remember what i paid for this mouse, but knowing me I doubt it was $20 if there were $10 ones available.

9

I once dropped a cordless phone into the bath. It was certainly wonky for a while, but it did go back to normal after something like a week - not a matter of hours.

10

well a couple of questions, was the mouse plugged in when it went into the water. how long did you wait before you tried it? If you got it wet, and then immediately plugged it in to see if it still works than thats why it doesn’t work anymore. Its very unlikely it will ever work again. the circuit board is probably fried.

if you ever drop it in water again, give it a good 24-72 hours to dry out, before you do anything with it. By the way, you can run a keyboard through the dishwasher (NO DETERGENT!) to clean it. As long as you give it at least 24 hours to dry out before you plug it in. If you get restless and plug it in before its 100% dry, fried keyboard.

11

Did you try opening it up or wiping clean the light and optical sensor?

12

Open the mouse. You may not have to replace it but it is flaky as is.
Spread a cloth for a work station.
Remove the one or maybe two small screws.
Hold with base down and remove top carefully to expose the interior.
Were there any salts, etc. in the foot bath? If so rinse the interior carefully and rain.
Remove any liquid with swabs or paper towels used a wicks.
Blow out with low pressure compressed air with care not to damage components.
Use a hair dryer to blow dry the interior and components. Reassemble.
Good luck!

13

It seems to work just fine now. I hung it above the floor heat vent overnight and plugged it back in – it works smurfily. Probably because there were no salts in the foot massager and I shook it out pretty good when it fell in in the first place.

Thanks, everybody! Minor catastrophe averted. I get to avoid the weather outside for a few more days… Yay, me. Good tips all around… I may try cleaning my keyboard as suggested, Cat.