Eeew... What IS that stuff?

[xmastree]

My mousepad keeps getting dirty.

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/556ick1.jpg

Little blobs of something, always appearing in that area only, which is below where the buttons usually roam.

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/8853ick2.jpg

Impervious to ethanol, I have to resort to scratching them off...

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/3304ick3.jpg
(talk about minimal depth of field...)

What is that stuff?

[The Modfather]

Dude, walk away from the computer! RUN!!!

:)

Naw, seriously, it's just gunk that builds up under mice, call it "mousejam". If you've got an optical mouse, first of all, get rid of that cloth covered mousepad, that's a no-no. Clean your mousing surface at least once a week and rub the bottom of your mouse with alcohol, use a Q-Tip to get hard to reach spots if ya gotta. That stuff builds up over time. Looks like you've ignored regular mouse maintenence for quite a while.

Either that or you need to stop looking at porno. :)

[xmastree]

The mousepad isn't cloth, apparently it has a color micro-structured surface or polyester surface for precise tracking... :rolleyes:
http://www.aidata.com/upload_file/gl012m.pdf
(why do they need a pdf for that?)
I guess it's the stuff which gets deposited on the rollers on ball mice. Maybe a mixture of dead skin and sweat?


Looks like you've ignored regular mouse maintenence for quite a while.Opticals don't need as much anyway.

[nil8]

Yea, that's dead skin. It clumps like that because of the oil in it. It's really no big deal.
Just clean it off once in a while and you should be good to go. If you're really freaked out by it, some dish soap and warm water should take care of it.

I use a black ratpadz and I clean it about once a season.

It really doesn't hurt optical mice, just ball mice.

[Aero]

yeah same thing happens to my mouse, but on the buttons themselves, then I try cleaning it with the computer on and it starts clicking everywhere and open programs. But why take all the energy to rech to power button, not worth it IMO.

[nil8]

A paperclip/toothpick is wonderful for cleaning out the mice. I had an old ibm mouse that would get gunk in both the buttons due to the design.

Aero, do I detect slackerdom?

[d_stilgar]

yeah same thing happens to my mouse, but on the buttons themselves, then I try cleaning it with the computer on and it starts clicking everywhere and open programs. But why take all the energy to rech to power button, not worth it IMO.

haha. I get it on my logitech mouse too. I clean it after I turn off the computer though. I have a ratpads gaming surface that I clean with hot water and scrubbing. It's been said already, but it is just oil and sweat and dirt that collects. Kinda gross if you think about it, but no harm to anything.

[Cevinzol]

Mmmm mouse jam and keyboard plaque, tastey.

That's one reason NOT to have a fan cooled mouse. All those little holes work like a cheese grater and the crud ends up inside your mouse.