Growing up, no one would hold my hand.

January 27, 2006 8:08 PM

Mouse pad for sweaty hands!

I have a disorder called Hyperhidrosis, which means my hands sweat... constantly. And a lot.

I am looking for a large mousepad made of fabric, or some other absorbent material. My local shopping has been ineffective. I've had a couple different varieties, but often they don't absorb the sweat (leaving me with puddles.. ick) or become very sticky. So... can anyone help me find a good mousepad online? I'm hoping for a fabric that works well wet, and hopefully in a large size. Decorations are inconsequential. I'm secretly hoping some other people suffer from the same problem and provide their insight!

posted by adzm to shopping (7 comments total)

Mouserug.com. Rarely has a lark turned out to be so satisfying. I bought my first mouserug in NYC five years ago. It's held up to the test of time just fine with only the slightest of wear. It doesn't shed as the fibres are fused directly into the rubber matting, and it doesn't peel like most mouse pads do. It can be washed:

The main Fiber Graphics part of the product is so tough, washable and durable that we use the same material to make floormat logos for Dodge Trucks! The only delicate part is the fringe, which could lose its twist from washing. You might want two of them depending on how severe your condition is.

I liked my mouserug enough that for Christmas this year I bought five of them to give as gifts to various members of my family. Their feedback has been very positive.

Best of all, they are actually very stylish, that rug really ties the room together.
posted by furtive at 9:54 PM on January 27, 2006

Also, if you're not willing to pony up the full price you can get real mouserugs at half price on ebay. They sell the defective ones there, although from what I've heard it's usually minor printing defects.
posted by furtive at 10:00 PM on January 27, 2006

you could also try applying anti-perspirant to yr hands. if the regular, run-of-the-mill stuff don't work, look for drysol or "certain-dri" at the drugstore.
posted by herrdoktor at 10:25 PM on January 27, 2006

Fellowes makes some nice good old-fashioned rubber and cloth mousepads. They even claim to be "antibacterial" for what that's worth.

At any rate, I sweat a ton and have rinsed mine off a couple of times and it seems to last, and if it doesn't last there's always a $5 replacement.

Also, Certain-Dri is a godsend. I use it on my underarms, as my hands aren't usually my worst spot, but it would probably work on your hands. (You apply it at night, and you can wash it off in the morning without losing the effect, so it wouldn't leave your hands sticky.)
posted by mmoncur at 10:55 PM on January 27, 2006

I hit on using a big, but not thick, hardcover book with a linen binding. Cheap or free. Works perfectly. Stays put. Linen won't lint up the mouse ball. Will absorb some moisture. And you can recycle it for another at the thrift store.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:48 AM on January 28, 2006

The mouse rug sounds great, just what I was hoping to find! I'm ordering one now... hopefully no germans will urinate on it. Thanks furtive and all ye for the advice :)
posted by adzm at 7:10 PM on January 28, 2006

In case anyone is still reading this thread, here's an air cooled mousepad project that looks like the ideal solution.
posted by mmoncur at 9:07 PM on February 7, 2006