Question from L.A.
Are the chemicals in the “compressed air” duster sprays for cleaning computer keyboards safe? I don’t like spraying chemicals in my home if I can possibly help it.
I’ve read about mini-vacuums but user feedback invariably says they are useless. Are there any other alternatives to chemicals that work well?
Debra’s Answer
I looked at a few Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for compressed air dusting products and found that they all contained 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane as the active ingredient. It’s a gas that has numerous health effects listed. You can read more about it at these links:
Your question brought to my attention that my own keyboard needed cleaning. I used a pair of tweezers with sharp points (designed for removing splinters) and ran the tips between the keys. Picked up a lot of clumps of dust. I picked out the balls with the tweezers, then just blew the remaining particles away with my own breath.
Readers, any tips on cleaning computer keyboards?
