Optical mouse cleaning

[AZZenny]

Do optical mice just wear out? (and is the plural of mouse in this case mice or mouses?) Mine is about 2 yrs old, has been jerky and a bit sluggish. I cleaned the mouse pad, lightly swabbed the little glass part with alcohol, and it helped a bit. Then I was cleaning the exterior and noticed dusty crud down along the wheel, so went at that with a toothpick and it even seemed to be in under the wheel (amazing what you can do when you're avoiding real work).

Is it sane to actually open the thing up to try to really clean it out, or will I have to go buy a new one the minute I do that anyways?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Do optical mice just wear out? (and is the plural of mouse in this case mice or mouses?) Mine is about 2 yrs old, has been jerky and a bit sluggish. I cleaned the mouse pad, lightly swabbed the little glass part with alcohol, and it helped a bit. Then I was cleaning the exterior and noticed dusty crud down along the wheel, so went at that with a toothpick and it even seemed to be in under the wheel (amazing what you can do when you're avoiding real work).

Is it sane to actually open the thing up to try to really clean it out, or will I have to go buy a new one the minute I do that anyways?

(Plural is mice)

Not much you can do to clean the laser on an optical mouse. The wheels and stuff and still be cleaned like what you have done. They have become throwaway devices as you can find optical mice for < $10.

 

[CardFan67]

(amazing what you can do when you're avoiding real work).

That's very funny... Totally visualized it... (toothpick and all)

Is it sane to actually open the thing up to try to really clean it out, or will I have to go buy a new one the minute I do that anyways?

I think it is sane, even if I am unsure of the results I will take something completely apart to try and fix it, if I can't at least I usually learn much more about how they work... And either way still have to buy a new one.

 

[CardFan67]

(Plural is mice)

Thought it was Mieces...

 

[jw7]

(Plural is mice)

Not much you can do to clean the laser on an optical mouse. The wheels and stuff and still be cleaned like what you have done. They have become throwaway devices as you can find optical mice for < $10.

DCR is right. I would not spend any effort in trying to fix an optical mouse other than maybe change the batteries.

They are cheap now, just go get a new one.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Thought it was Mieces...

nah. Sounds funny. Some people actually use mouses, and that's just weird.

 

[Darth Llama]

If you want to take it apart, they are really easy to take apart and put back together. Back when they were actually expensive, I used to clean mine all the time. Now, I agree with the above, unless you have a nice gaming mouse or something, I would just replace it. Usually when my optical gets sluggish, the problem is dirt build up around the bottom of the mouse on the rubber contact points. If all that's clean, and you have a little time to kill, pop that baby open. Worst that happens is you ruin a mouse you'll likely have to replace anyway, might as well have some fun right?

 

[Sandan]

Have you checked the little rubber pads in the corners.

They can get pretty encrusted with crap

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Have you checked the little rubber pads in the corners.

They can get pretty encrusted with crap

I cleaned mine out a couple of days ago with a metal dart. It was amazingly gross.

 

[Sandan]

I find a mouse pad helps keep them cleaner