Logitech Marble Mouse & other trackball devices

Hi all,

Maybe everyone but me already knows this, but I'm gonna to share my experience just in case it might help someone.

I've had a Logitech "Marble Mouse" at work for several years now. For those unfamiliar, it is actually a trackball rather than an actual mouse. Earlier today I cleaned the device, using some 409 sprayed onto a rag (not directly on the device).

I experienced problems with the Logitech Marble Mouse after cleaning. I found the "ball" no longer moved smoothly. I did notice the surface of the ball seemed a little sticky and I tried (for a second time) to polish it with a microfiber cloth with little success.

I then found a recommendation online (user comment from "Robomac" at applematters.com) that referenced my same exact problem. The advice is to NOT use solvent type cleaners (windex, 409, etc.), but rather furniture polish like "Pledge". The solvent type cleaners apparently do not harm the ball, but rather they leave a sticky residue that affects it's ability to move smoothly. I was fortunate enough to have access to some Pledge furniture polish here at work and am happy to report that it worked perfectly. Trackball movement went from a very unpleasant feeling with much resistance to perfectly smooth. Note that I cleaned not only the ball itself, but also the little (teflon?) "pegs" on which it rides with the Pledge. I also used my microfiber cloth to polish all surfaces after cleaning with the Pledge.

BTW, I DO NOT work for Johnson Wax Co. "Pledge" just happens to be what we have here at work. Were I doing this at home, I'd have used whatever generic brand that I buy from the Family Dollar!

Hope this helps someone somewhere!

Peace,
Rob
Lynn Haven, FL

THANK YOU! I was afraid had messed up my trackball forever.

Hi Gohber,

Thank you for the kind words! I'm very pleased that my experience has helped others... that's the way the internet should work, eh?

Anyway, I imagine those screen cleaning wipes had the same effect on your Marble Mouse as the 409 did on mine. From my experience, the only thing that helped was the furniture polish (something like regular Pledge). I "cleaned" the parts with the polish (sprayed first onto a rag/cloth, not directly on the device), then buffed them with a clean, dry, soft cloth.

I had same problem and used same solution on two of these Marble Mouse devices and they are both still working perfectly to this day.

Hope you have the same success!

Hi Bytor -

Thank you SO MUCH for this.

Same story for me - cleaned out the trackball (which I LOVE!) - thought I'd go the "extra mile" and clean both the ball and the inside with Windex - then the PANIC - no slide anymore - so into Google I punch the problem and find this thread.

Thanks a MILLION for sharing!

Jay (Boston)

Not a fake at all!

I know because I just fixed the same problem using furniture polish.

I am also very thankful to the OP for posting this.

Instead of assuming that something is fake, one should be certain by first trying it.