Posts Tagged cyber clean

It’s the kind of thing you’d expect to see on an infomercial while flipping through the TV channels late at night.

But does Cyber Clean, marketed as a “high tech cleaning compound” for keyboards and electronic devices, really work and should  you make room for it in your suitcase?

The first time I came across Cyber Clean, it was being hawked on the floor of the 2010 International CES. It’s a gel that feels a lot like Silly Putty and works by stretching and pressing it down on the surface to be cleaned.

The dirt it picks up is folded over into the gel and encapsulated, so the goo can be stored and reused. A “strength meter” on the package shows when it gets too dirty and should be discarded. The folks at Cyber Clean say it’s ideal for keyboards since it will mold to the shape between the keys.

Cyberclean could also be used for cell phones, and telephones and TV remote controls in hotel rooms. At the hotels where I’ve stayed, it looks like remotes are seldom, if ever, cleaned by the housekeeping staff. If I’m eating in the room, I won’t change channels with the remote without washing my hands afterward.

Cyberclean does help reach into the nooks and crannies where dirt can hide in keyboards. And I could see using it for TV remotes. Research sponsored by the company found it does work against staph and other bacteria.

I gave a sample of Cyber Clean to a couple of friends and asked them to try it on their office keyboards. One thought it was “icky.”  Another said while it worked, pressing it on the keyboard took some time and he thought a product like Clorox Wipes would be faster.

The 2.65 oz. version of Cyber Clean, in a zip pouch, sells at most stores between $5 and $9 for a single pack. It’s available from Amazon, electronic and office-supply stores and home-improvement retailers.

I’m no germaphobe, as you can see from my review here of a product that covers airplane seats. But computer keyboards and TV remotes are notorious for hiding gunk and grime.

For my travels, I’d put Cyber Clean in the optional category. If you’re concerned about germs on the road, it could be useful—or another product might work just as well.