If you are looking for a way to clean your mouse scroll wheel, then you are in the right place.
Whether it's your monitor screen, PC fan, graphics card, or mouse scroll wheel, they all get dirty after a while and cleaning them periodically is a must. A dirty mouse can cause a lot of problems such as scroll wheel issues, slower cursor movement, or sensor problems.
So what is the best way to clean a mouse scroll wheel? We've got a few tips to help you keep your mouse scroll wheel clean and in top working order. Let's get started!
How To Clean A Mouse Scroll Wheel
The mouse scroll wheel is a common area for dust, dirt, and other debris to accumulate. To function properly, you need to make sure that it is clean and does not stick.
You can clean them using water and a piece of soft clean cloth. But if you want to make sure that you are getting the best results, then you should consider investing in some proper cleaning equipment like isopropyl alcohol solution, microfiber cloth and a can of compressed air. You can use these tools to clean your keyboard, monitor screen, PC fan, or virtually any electronic device.
The following instructions will show you how to clean a mouse scroll wheel.
- Unplug the mouse from your computer. If the mouse is wireless, take the battery out of it.
- Fip the mouse over so that the bottom faces up and locate the small screw that holds together the outside panels of your mouse. You can google for detailed instructions since different models of mice have different screw configurations.
- Next, unscrew the screw and flip the mouse back over.
- Now, remove the top cover by gently lifting it up. You will see the scroll wheel and the internal circuit board.
- Hold your can of compressed air roughly four inches from the scroll wheel and fire short bursts of air at either side of the wheel, to get rid of all loose dust and dirt.
- Pour some water/isopropyl alcohol solution onto a clean soft cloth/microfiber cloth. Then, gently wipe around the circumference of the wheel, removing oily buildup and dirt.
- Allow the wheel to dry completely. Once the wheel is dry, reassemble the mouse.
- Finally, test the mouse to make sure it works properly.
Read More: Wireless Mouse vs Wired: Which Is Better?
How To Clean A Mouse Scroll Wheel Without Taking It Apart
If disassembling and reassembling your mouse is something you’re not too keen on doing, you’ll be happy to know that you can clean it yourself without taking it apart. This is a pretty simple process and can be done in just a few minutes.
However, you will need a can of compressed air, a cleaning cloth, and a little bit of patience. Here is what you need to do:
- First, unplug the mouse from your computer. If the mouse is wireless, take the battery out of it.
- Then, hold the compressed air can roughly four inches away from the scroll wheel and spray short bursts of air around the scroll wheel, to blow off all loose dust and dirt.
- After that, gently wipe down the top of your mouse with a clean soft cloth/microfiber cloth.
That's it! Surprisingly, this process doesn't require much time or effort, and it's a pretty simple process. It's a good idea to clean your mouse every once in a while, so you don't have to worry about the mouse getting dirty again.