Vacuum cleaners were created to initially clean floors. However, with the recent evolution of technology, they now serve other purposes as well. More specifically, USB vacuum cleaners can help you these days to clean your laptop’s keyboard. There are basically 2 ways you can get rid of dirt and debris that accumulates under the keys you tap each day (besides of course the traditional wiping). You can either blow the dirt using a can of compressed air, or you can suck it away with one of the gadgets I’ll be presenting bellow. Personally, I don’t really like the first approach, as you may end up sending dirt even deeper into your laptop, and these cans wear out pretty fast too. Thus, I’ll be talking here about the second option, with its positive and negative points.
What is a USB Mini Vacuum Cleaner and how does it work?
A mini vacuum cleaner powered by a USB slot works on the same principle as common vacuum cleaner. The power source is the major difference of these cleaners, as this port only provides around 5V (at maximum 500mA). In order to work with such a low power, producers made a few essential adjustments. These cleaners are mostly made of plastic, to enhance the lightweight. Despite the plastic used, they feel solid enough to move around. The middle part will typically split in order to give air to the filter section. In relationship with their weight (which is less than half a pound), they normally measure around 5” in length, 1.5” in height and 1.5” in thickness. A great thing about these small vacs is that they can be used on other things as well: desks, book shelves, complex pieces of furniture and so on.
Since they differ from the standard vacuum cleaners, the common features that you would expect to find in the box of a mini vacuum cleaner are:
- The vacuum unit
- At least a mini-brush (which may be detachable or not)
- An USB cable
- An elastic rubber keyboard cleft accessory, and
- The manual&warranty certificate
An USB vacuum cleaner has usually a general settings switch located at the top of the back side, a LED light (which will be on or off, depending whether the vacuum is operating or not). More expensive models even allow you to regulate the suction power of the vacuum. Typically, USB vacuum cleaners are very easy to use. I’m pretty sure everybody can plug an USB cable to a laptop. Ideally, the laptop should be connected to the power or have a full battery. If however you’re using it on a desktop, you don’t need to worry about these things.
Why you shouldn’t use your regular vacuum cleaner to suck up your laptop
For 2 reasons:
- electrostatic energy, which may accumulate due to the friction of the air and damage some internal components.
- to avoid popping off keys from the keyboard.
Do they break easily?
This is relative to the amount of care that you give your device. The manner in which you use your device will determine how long it will last. You should avoid cleaning larger surfaces. For instance, never clean your sofa with a USB vacuum cleaner, because too much dust might reduce its lifespan. Only clean areas specified in the instructions. Ensure that you have plugged the cable off the USB port whenever you are not using it.
My favorites
With USB:
| Picture | Brand and model | Best price and discounts |
|---|---|---|
 | Kingzer USB Vacuum Keyboard Cleaner |  |
 | E-More Fashion Mini USB LED Keyboard Vacuum Cleaner | |
 | YKS New Mini USB Vacuum Keyboard Cleaner | |
 | IEssentials IEVAC USB Vacuum | |
Without USB, but better at sucking up dirt, still perfect for keyboards (laptops & PCs) or desks:
| Picture | Brand and model | Best price and discounts |
|---|---|---|
 | NiceEshop Electric Battery Operated Table Vacuum Cleaner | |
 | Mushroom Shaped Mini Vacuum Cleaner | |
 | Metro Vacuum DataVac Pro | |
 | ZOpid Mini Battery-operated Desktop Vacuum Cleaner | |
Conclusion
USB vacuum cleaners will help you maintain the cleanness you desire and enhance the lifespan of your laptop or PC. Having a clean keyboard is important for numerous biological, psychological, social and philosophical reasons :). These mini vacs are “environmental friendly” and cost less than a Big Mac, so I warmly recommend you can one and use it as much as possible. Better yet, if you have some time to spare, you can make one on your own. And if you have other tips about one of these little fellows or about efficiently cleaning keyboards, don’t be afraid to share them.
Jason Roberts
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Austin Edwards says
I need a keyboard vacuum with a brush to clean my laptop. A good number of the keys are sticking. Do the dust collectors have brushes or are they basically like using a can of compressed air? Also, what would you recommend if I was going to buy one at Target or Wal-Mart?
-Austin
Jason Roberts says
MetroVac DataPro is a complete kit, but if you’re looking for something cheaper, you can try the iEssentials USB vac, it has a small yet wide brush.
Austin Edwards says
Thank you. I’ll try the iEssentials USB vac.