Vacuum Cleaners And Keyboards There is an ongoing debate as to the safety of vacuum cleaners with computer equipment. The problem is static discharge. Many vacuum cleaners—especially small, inexpensive models—use cheap plastic and synthetic fabrics in their construction. When a fast airflow passes over those materials, a static charge is developed (just like combing your hair with a plastic comb. If the charged vacuum touches the keyboard, a static discharge might have enough potential to damage the keyboard-controller IC, or even travel back into the motherboard for more serious damage. 670 Keyboards Avoid removing the unless it is absolutely necessary because the space bar is often much more difficult to replace than ordinary keys. If you do choose to use a vacuum for keyboard cleaning, take these two steps to prevent damage. First, be sure that the computer is powered down and disconnect the keyboard from the computer before starting service. If a static discharge does occur, the most that would be damaged is the keyboard itself. Second, use a vacuum cleaner that is made for electronics work and certified as “static-safe.” Third, try working on an anti-static mat (such as the mat in Fig. 20-7), which is properly grounded. This will tend to “bleed-off” static charges before they can enter the keyboard or PC.
