Abstract: A vacuum cleaner for simultaneously cleaning and sterilizing a surface includes a vacuum cleaner housing, a plurality of wheels for supporting the vacuum cleaner housing on the surface, a main power switch for electrically connecting the vacuum cleaner to an external source of power, a motor coupled to the main power switch and a rotary brush coupled to the motor. The motor includes a suction fan. A UV lamp housing assembly is mounted inside the vacuum cleaner housing and urged downward toward the surface. The UV lamp assembly includes a UV lamp for sterilizing the surface at the same time as it is being cleaned. A UV light gasket assembly is fixedly mounted underneath the UV lamp assembly and includes a track of conductive material having a plurality of gaps and a plurality of interlock switches for closing the gaps, one interlock switch being associated with each gap. Each interlock switch includes a cap and an interlock contact of conductive material which is fixed to the cap.