BASKETBALL

Is the only solution to buy a new one?
@ The Arfen

It’s not a wireless mouse, it’s optical: It uses light rather than a rolling ball to track its movement. I’m sure there are optical wireless ones, if you say so, but this isn’t among them.

And you apparently didn’t read that I’ve already cleaned it–not that it looked dirty beforehand.
To Mr. Miller:

The “pad” is the latest in a long line of sheets of ruled notebook paper, laid over a slightly uneven desk surface. Never had any problem until recently.

So I fear my supposition, and your certainty, is correct.