Materials

We like materials that look calm on a desk and are easy to live with. Here’s what each one is good for and how to look after it.

Each product page lists the exact materials, as far as the manufacturer tells us. If a care note on a product page is different from this page, follow the product page.

Aluminium

Light, rigid and cool to the touch.

Aluminium is a light metal that stays stiff under load, which is why it’s used for laptop stands and headphone stands. It conducts heat well, so a laptop resting on it isn’t sitting on an insulating surface. It doesn’t rust the way steel does.

Care

  • Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then dry.
  • For marks, use a drop of mild washing-up liquid in water.
  • Avoid scouring pads, abrasive creams and strong solvents. They can scratch or dull the finish.

Walnut

Dark, close grain that stays warm in any light.

Walnut is a hardwood with a rich brown colour and a fine, close grain. Like all wood, it’s a natural material: grain and colour vary from piece to piece, and the colour can soften slowly with time and sunlight.

Care

  • Dust with a dry, soft cloth. For marks, use a cloth that’s only slightly damp, then dry straight away.
  • Wipe up spills quickly. Don’t soak wood or leave it wet.
  • Keep it away from radiators and long spells of direct sun. Wood can move a little with heat and humidity.

Bamboo

Light in colour, hard and smooth.

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass. For furniture and desk accessories, strips of it are pressed and bonded together into boards, which gives a hard, smooth surface with a fine, even pattern.

Care

  • Look after it as you would wood: dry or slightly damp cloth, wipe spills quickly, don’t soak it.

Wool felt

Soft under the hand and quiet under a keyboard.

Felt is made by pressing and matting fibres together, rather than weaving them. Wool felt is soft and has a little cushion, so it softens the sound of a keyboard and mouse and is gentle on the desk underneath. Some felt mats blend wool with other fibres; the product page lists the composition when the manufacturer tells us.

Care

  • Use a lint roller or a soft brush to lift dust and crumbs.
  • Blot spills straight away with a dry cloth. Don’t rub, as that pushes the spill into the fibres.
  • Spot clean with cold water and a little mild wool detergent, then let it dry flat, away from direct heat.
  • Don’t put it in the washing machine or tumble dryer unless the product page says you can. Heat and agitation can shrink or distort felt.
  • A little fuzz on the surface in the first weeks is normal. A lint roller or fabric shaver removes it.

Vegan leather (PU leather)

Smooth, wipe-clean and easy to live with.

Vegan leather here means PU leather: a polyurethane surface on a fabric backing, with no animal leather. It’s smooth under a mouse, resists everyday spills and wipes clean.

Care

  • Wipe with a soft, damp cloth. For marks, add a drop of mild soap, then wipe with clean water and dry.
  • Avoid alcohol, solvents and leather conditioners made for real leather. They can damage the surface.
  • Keep it away from direct heat, and from sharp edges that could cut the surface.
  • If a new mat has a slight curl from its packaging, lay it flat for a day or two.

Not sure about something?

Email support@tophik.com and we’ll tell you what we know about the product.