A desk mat spends all day under your wrists, your forearms and whatever you are eating at your desk. It collects skin oil, dust, crumbs and the occasional splash of coffee. You don't see it building up until one day the area under your mouse hand is a shade darker than the rest. The good news is that a printed cloth desk mat is easy to clean, and done properly, cleaning won't harm the artwork.
This guide is for Kiyo Arts desk mats, which have a smooth polyester surface and a natural rubber base. It applies to most cloth desk mats and mouse pads.
The weekly wipe (one minute)
Most of the dirt on a mat is loose, and removing it weekly stops it being ground into the fabric.
- Lift off your keyboard and mouse.
- Take the mat to a bin or outside and shake it.
- Wipe the surface with a dry microfibre cloth or run a lint roller over it.
That is enough for most weeks. It also keeps your mouse sensor reading a clean surface, which helps tracking stay consistent.
Spot cleaning a mark
For a spill or a visible stain, you don't need to wash the whole mat.
- Mix a few drops of dish soap into a bowl of warm water.
- Dip a clean cloth or soft sponge in it and wring it out well. It should be damp, not dripping.
- Work on the mark with small circles and light pressure.
- For a stubborn spot, use a soft-bristled brush, such as an old soft toothbrush.
- Wipe the area with a second cloth dampened with plain water to lift the soap.
- Pat dry with a towel and leave it flat to finish drying.
Deal with spills straight away if you can. Blot with a paper towel first to lift the liquid. Don't rub a fresh spill, which pushes it deeper into the weave.
The deep clean (every few months)
When the whole mat looks dull or the area under your hand has darkened, give it a full wash by hand.
- Fill a bath, a large sink or a clean tub with a few inches of lukewarm water. Add a small squirt of dish soap or mild liquid detergent.
- Lay the mat in the water, printed side up.
- Gently scrub the surface with a soft sponge or soft brush, paying most attention to where your hands rest.
- Drain the water and rinse the mat thoroughly with clean cool water until no suds come off. Leftover soap leaves the surface sticky and attracts dirt.
- Press the mat between two towels to remove most of the water. Don't wring or twist it.
You don't need to soak the mat for a long time. A few minutes in the water is enough.
Drying: the step people rush
Lay the mat flat on a dry towel, or hang it over a shower rail or drying rack, and let it air dry completely. This usually takes several hours and can take overnight for the largest size. Make sure the rubber base is dry as well as the top: putting a damp mat back on a wooden desk can mark the desk.
Don't speed things up with a hairdryer on hot, a radiator or direct sun. Heat can warp the rubber base so the mat no longer lies flat, and strong sunlight fades printed fabric.
Can it go in the washing machine?
Our care instructions for these mats are to clean by hand with warm water and dish soap. Hand washing is gentler on the bond between the fabric and the rubber, and it takes about ten minutes. A machine's spin cycle and warm water can stress that bond and curl the edges. If you choose to machine wash any cloth mat, that is at your own risk; use cold water and a gentle cycle, and never put it in a dryer.
What to avoid
- Bleach and harsh cleaners. They strip colour from the print.
- Alcohol wipes and disinfectant sprays, used often. Fine for a one-off, but regular use dries out the surface and can dull the colours.
- Hot water. It weakens the rubber and the adhesive.
- Stiff brushes and scouring pads. They rough up the smooth surface your mouse glides on.
- The dryer. Heat and tumbling are the fastest way to ruin a mat.
- Folding. Roll it if you need to store or move it. A fold leaves a crease that is hard to remove.
Dealing with specific problems
- Coffee, tea or soda: blot at once, then spot clean with soapy water. Sugary drinks need a proper rinse or the patch stays tacky.
- Greasy food marks: dish soap is made for grease. Work a drop directly into the mark with a damp cloth, then rinse.
- Ink: dab with a cloth dampened with a little rubbing alcohol, working from the outside in. Test on a corner first.
- A curled corner: lay the mat flat and put a heavy book on the corner overnight.
- A slippery base: dust on the rubber stops it gripping. Wipe the underside and the desk with a damp cloth and let both dry.
- A smell: a full hand wash and thorough drying fixes almost every case.
How to keep it clean longer
Wash your hands before a long session, keep food off the mat, and use a coaster for drinks. Darker artwork hides day-to-day marks better than pale designs, so if you eat at your desk, a deep cosmic or cyberpunk print is a practical choice as well as a good-looking one.
When to replace it
A mat that is cleaned regularly lasts for years. It is time for a new one when the surface has gone shiny and smooth where your mouse moves, the edges are fraying, or the base has hardened and no longer grips. If you are choosing a replacement, our desk mat size guide explains the three sizes, and you can browse every design in the desk mats collection.