I recently replaced my old mouse and keyboard after using them for many years. I really like the new set, but after about 10 days I noticed shiny, oily-looking spots developing on the left and right mouse buttons. I wash my hands before using the mouse, don't use hand products, and tried cleaning it, but the marks did not come off. The mouse is made by Mars Gaming and still works properly. Could this just be the plastic wearing smooth, or should I return it while I still can?
3 Answers
It’s difficult to say whether it’s normal without seeing the mouse, but permanent shiny patches usually indicate the finish is wearing rather than leftover grease. Since this happened after only 10 days, I’d take photos and contact the seller or manufacturer. They can confirm whether the surface is defective and you may still have the option to return it.
If the spots don’t wipe away, they’re probably areas where the surface coating or plastic is already becoming smooth from your fingers. That seems unusually fast, but some mice use softer or lower-quality plastic. If everything works properly and the marks aren’t getting worse rapidly, it may be cosmetic rather than a functional problem.
Hand oils can cause this over time, but if you’re already washing your hands and cleaning doesn’t remove the marks, it’s likely a finish or material issue. I wouldn’t panic if the mouse feels solid and functions normally, but returning or exchanging it is reasonable if the appearance bothers you or the wear continues spreading.
That makes sense. I was mainly worried because it happened so quickly, but the mouse is still working perfectly.