What technique do you use to clean your Mighty Mouse trackball? I bought a box of alcohol swabs from a local drugstore and about once a month I turn off the mouse, cover the trackball with a swab, then press down firmly and roll away. After about 10 seconds and my mouse is squeaky clean! I've been doing this for over a year with no problems.
Recently I found the Apple Support recommended technique is to hold the mouse upside down and roll over the trackball with a damp lint-free cloth. Has this worked well for anybody?
Question about
Trackball Cleaning
i roll it on a bright white thick piece of paper . . . and that seems to do the trick pretty dang good . . . i just rub it till its stops leaving black marks on the paper
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
My best solution is to REGULARLY clean my trackball (I do it weekly) by unplugging, turning the mouse upside down and applying enough pressure to depress the trackball, and rolling it in a circular motion on a post-it. If it gets too gunked up, just exchange the post-it for a moist cloth. Never had an issue with the mouse failing outright, just predictably gets junk in there that needs to be cleaned out. Not rocket science. Hopefully we won't have to deal with this much longer. . .see my post on the Mighty Mouse update that should be forthcoming this year. . .
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
I put rubbing alcohol on a qtip, and then rub it around on the trackball. The Qtip picks up dirt, and the alcohol dries quickly.
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
I used to try all sorts of weird things, like alcohol (for cleaning the mouse), rolling it upside down on a piece of paper. But later on I discovered, that what works best for me is vigorously rolling back and fort with the mouse in the air. Apparently the more vigorously you do it, the more the gunk shakes loose - which, I guess, is why it never worked to just slowly move it back and fort on that piece of paper everyone is talking about.
Opening the mouse up would work, of course, but I understand you have to physically remove/loosen a piece of plastic that should be glued on. It seems a little invasive.
I've refined the "vigorous" method slightly though: I now use a lens cleaning (microfiber) tissue and move that vigorously across the... ahem... ball. It works best for me and after previously ruining my girlfriend's mouse, I no longer use the pipette with Finlandia Vodka that I have next to my computer.
Opening the mouse up would work, of course, but I understand you have to physically remove/loosen a piece of plastic that should be glued on. It seems a little invasive.
I've refined the "vigorous" method slightly though: I now use a lens cleaning (microfiber) tissue and move that vigorously across the... ahem... ball. It works best for me and after previously ruining my girlfriend's mouse, I no longer use the pipette with Finlandia Vodka that I have next to my computer.
mark as good answer
1 person likes this answer
I just turn it off, turn it upside down, and rolled it around (some, but not too much downward force) on a clean lint free tablecloth, so that's close to Apple's solution. Works for me!
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I steal my sister's nail varnish remover, put it on a cloth, etc.
It is really really annoying!!! Otherwise it would be a great mouse! As such I use a M$ mouse!
It is really really annoying!!! Otherwise it would be a great mouse! As such I use a M$ mouse!
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
All,
Cleaning the track ball and the paper method do work, but it's only a temporary measure.
The crux of the problem is inside the hardware and that means opening up your Mighty Mouse. Basically, four small wheels corresponding to scroll up, down, left and right turn when the track ball moves. These magnetic wheels pick up the dirt over time and no amount to external cleaning will remove this dirt!
The good news is that the process is very simple and will only take an hour or so. The rules say I can't post tiny url's etc.. and rules is rules. If anyone wants a link to the YT video demo I used to fix my mouse, just send me a message derm8472 and I will provide the link. I was just about to give up on my Mighty Mouse and then I just took the plunge, opened it and it's like brand new. This is child's play compared to up-grading memory in a Mac Mini.
Cleaning the track ball and the paper method do work, but it's only a temporary measure.
The crux of the problem is inside the hardware and that means opening up your Mighty Mouse. Basically, four small wheels corresponding to scroll up, down, left and right turn when the track ball moves. These magnetic wheels pick up the dirt over time and no amount to external cleaning will remove this dirt!
The good news is that the process is very simple and will only take an hour or so. The rules say I can't post tiny url's etc.. and rules is rules. If anyone wants a link to the YT video demo I used to fix my mouse, just send me a message derm8472 and I will provide the link. I was just about to give up on my Mighty Mouse and then I just took the plunge, opened it and it's like brand new. This is child's play compared to up-grading memory in a Mac Mini.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
My original Mighty Mouse eventually stopped scrolling no matter how much I cleaned it. Turning it upside down and cleaning it on my pants used to do the trick before then
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
The easiest solution is to unplug the Mighty Mouse and take it to your closest e waste recycler. Buy a real scroll wheel mouse from Logitech or even a no name brand and save yourself a lot of wasted effort trying to open or clean this little beast.
Of all the wonderful things Apple has designed, they have never made an easy to use, reliable mouse.
Of all the wonderful things Apple has designed, they have never made an easy to use, reliable mouse.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
Buy an alcohol solution, drop some into the trackball hole and clean away with the mouse upside down... always worked for me...
also note that the alcohol must be in it's purest form so it doesn't leave any residues behind...
also note that the alcohol must be in it's purest form so it doesn't leave any residues behind...
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
Once in a while the roller mechanism will become so clogged with gunk that the scroll ball will become unusable. when this happens I disassemble the mouse and clean the rollers with cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol. It's a little barbaric but I think it can be avoided with regular cleanings the way apple recommends. (lint free cloth style).
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
i take it apart and clean it regularly as it gets disgusting!
i also removed the side click buttons cause i keep hitting them on accident
i also removed the side click buttons cause i keep hitting them on accident
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
My usual method is the same as many other people here; rolling it upside down on paper. But the isopropyl/acetone ideas seem good, and as I find that my trackball is sticking more than ever, I might try that soon. I'll probably also try it on my phone's trackball. :]
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
i do as the others do and flip it over and rub it one a white pice of paper.......when i read this it sounds wierd...but thats what i do
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
i thought my mouse had died, so i brought it to the Apple Store and they did the same method as the original poster. Q-Tip and rubbing alcohol. Works well, only needs to be done once every couple months (depending on hand cleanliness i suppose)
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
i give it a nice bubble bath . . . light a few candles . . . put on some sweet sweet mouse music . . . and let it rest . . .
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I use lens cleaner type clothes that are wet ( rubbing alcohol type wet not water). Hold it upside down and roll the trackball over it. Also a can of air seems to help.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
Can someone post a good tutorial on how to open up the mighty mouse for cleaning? Mine is gunked up to the point where external cleaning isn't enough, it only scrolls in one direction. Driving me crazy!
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I retired my Mighty Mouse as it was getting to be too much trouble to clean the roller ball and the thing (wireless) is just way too heavy.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
My trackball stops working every now and then but it's not big deal. I just wet my finger slightly and then push down and roll the trackball. after about 2 seconds of this, i'm back in action.
And yeah, using paper underneath the mouse is the best trick ever. I use the back of a legal pad as my mouse pad and now I never get any gunk on the bottom of my mouse.
And yeah, using paper underneath the mouse is the best trick ever. I use the back of a legal pad as my mouse pad and now I never get any gunk on the bottom of my mouse.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I found that 1)unplugging the Mity Mouse, and 2) plugging in a cheap Logitech mouse, solve this problem permanently.
Alcohol swab worked the first 10 times, but eventually the ball was unusable.
Best $19.95 I spent on my Mac.
Alcohol swab worked the first 10 times, but eventually the ball was unusable.
Best $19.95 I spent on my Mac.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
I use a Qtip dampened with denatured alcohol - I rub it over the mouse button while holding it upside down. Then I roll the mouse upside down on the scroll wheel on a piece of white paper. You will see all the gunk coming off on the Qtip then the paper! When all done, I wipe off the excess alcohol with a cloth as it might mar the plastic if it's left on there too long.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
This is the single most frustrating this about my Apple experience. In the past year I have gone through 3 might mice all with dodgy trackballs. Once they start to go I try cleaning them. That will resolve the trouble for a while then it gets to the point where cleaning does not work. I'm on first name terms with the people in the local Apple store. Sigh...
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
Here is a plug for Apple Care. My original wired MM got worse and worse; I took it into the Apple Store with my Apple Care numbers and they happily replaced it.
The new one must have design improvements as it has not been much of a problem... I turn it upside down and hard scroll sometimes and sometimes I blow some compressed air at and around the ball. The compressed air causes some fluttering vibration as it moves the ball in - opening up the gap between the ball and the plastic case. I think this vibration helps dislodge the stubborn debris.
I do enjoy the sleek design, now I have a hard time with anything less.
The new one must have design improvements as it has not been much of a problem... I turn it upside down and hard scroll sometimes and sometimes I blow some compressed air at and around the ball. The compressed air causes some fluttering vibration as it moves the ball in - opening up the gap between the ball and the plastic case. I think this vibration helps dislodge the stubborn debris.
I do enjoy the sleek design, now I have a hard time with anything less.
mark as good answer
0 people like this answer
follow this question
share:
Related questions
29 users following this question:
This question has been viewed 681 times.
Last activity .
Tips for giving the best answers
Sometimes it's just little details that separates a great and not so great answer! Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind:
- 1
- Be complete and thorough. Don't skimp on the details!
- 2
- Try not to answer with a question. Because that's not really an answer, right?
- 3
- A little research goes a long way. Back up your claims and assumptions!
- 4
- Try to be patient, tech questions can be complicated.
- 5
- You are awesome for both reading this and answering questions.