Originally Posted by Usmer3689
I don't want to take it apart and mess it up
A wise decision in that some members have "messed it up" when taking apart the trackball.
IMHO the key to cleaning the trackball is to NOT use it when your fingers are dirty. It's a hassle at times and some members have ridiculed me for being careful not to use the trackball when my fingers are dirty, but to each their own.
Second, I clean mine about once a week with ammonia based Windex or denatured alcohol. So not spray Windex directly on the Pearl, spray a paper towel.
Try to old part of the trackball with a fingernail then scrub the other half. Repeat until you have scrubbed the entire trackball.
You can also remove the battery then rub/scrub the heck out of the trackball with a lint free towel or low lint paper towel.
Keep in mind that the trackball is very porous and gummy. Dirt is absorbed deep into it over time. If that happens, no amount of cleaning will get out the dark tint that eventually develops.
That is why I say the key is to not use the trackball with dirty fingers and to clean it at least once a week. Sometimes I clean it once a day since it takes about two minutes to do it.
Bonus Comment: Lousy thread title by the way. Better to put what your question is instead of "trackball."