ZDNET’s key findings

• I tested a 20-in-1 gadget cleaning toolwhich is available on Amazon for $13.
• The set is compact, the components are all high quality and can be reused many times and the set includes a selection of brushes and cleaners.
• A larger container for lens cleaning fluid would have been useful.

I urge you to take a closer look at your keyboard. If it’s anything like mine, or the systems I’m currently touching, then there’s going to be an apocalypse of dirt, hair, and crumbs. I’ve only had my new MacBook Pro for a few weeks, and it already looks gross, especially when I take it outside and look at it in the sun.

View on Amazon

However, I would advise against getting out your household vacuum cleaner and poking it into your keyboard or other openings in your system, as this may result in keys being sucked up from the keyboard and damage to the fans inside the system.

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A “tool” that I use to clean my keyboard is Clean mucus. It’s quite handy for vacuuming up the worst of the dirt, but I’ve seen people use it incorrectly – ramming it into their keyboards and even shoveling it into holes in a system. I’ve also noticed that some of them can leave a slight oily residue behind, which in turn attracts more dirt.

A few weeks ago I tried out a new tool – a 20-in-1 cleaning set – and after using it to thoroughly clean several systems, I’m very impressed with it. And it’s not just for desktop and laptop systems, it’s also great for cleaning smartphones, tablets, and even dirty earbuds!

What is included in the kit

• Retractable keyboard brush
• Earbud cleaning pen
• Flocking sponge
• Soft mini brush
• Lens brush
• Brush handle extension
• Cleaning brush for headphone housing
• Camera Brush
• Screen cleaner spray
• Microfiber fiber disc
• Keycap puller
• Key switch shaft puller
• Air blower (with nozzle extensions)
• Double head brush (hard and soft bristle brush
• SIM card eject tool

I’ve had brushes and blowers before, but never a set that went together as well as this one. It’s perfect for keeping in a desk drawer, throwing in a laptop bag, or keeping as a spare in a portable repair kit.

The holder prevents anything from spilling, which is a huge advantage for a clumsy and careless person like me.

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The contents of the set are also of surprisingly good quality. Everything is well made and durable, and the brushes don’t lose bristles when used, which I really like because it’s frustrating to have to fish out bristles that have fallen off a brush you’re using to clean something.

The set also includes a small bottle of lens cleaning spray, which seems to do a good job. Once the bottle is empty, it can be opened and refilled.

Best of all, this kit costs less than $13. For that price, you get something that’s definitely reusable. I’ve used it to clean a handful of systems, as well as a number of smartphones, tablets, and tatty earbuds, and the kit still works perfectly.

Buying advice from ZDNET

I must admit that for just over $10, I was more than a little skeptical about the quality of the items in this kit, but after using the 20-in-1 set For several weeks now, I’ve been convinced that this is a great purchase for anyone looking for a convenient, easy-to-carry cleaning kit for everything from keyboards to smartphones.

I now own three of them. One is in my laptop bag, one is on my desk, and another is stashed in my portable repair kit. You could probably benefit from one, too.