Is vacuuming my dusty VHS tapes okay?
 

I've got a few dozen VHS tapes that have a dust layer on them from sitting in a closet for a few years. Most of these tapes are inside dust jackets but a few are not.

This may be a silly question, but is there any reason why I should NOT use a vacuum to clean the dust off them? Could my vacuum somehow damage the tapes? I'm not referring to any mold issues, just regular household dust on the exteriors.

Yes I'd be vacuuming the dust off the cassette exterior, taking care that the dust goes straight into the vac nozzle and doesnt find its way inside the case. The cassette is obviously most safe from dust ingress when sitting on a flat surface, label up with the flap fully closed. Dust and dirt are a big enemy of magnetic tapes and VCR's. Cleanliness pays off.