A valve assembly is provided that comprises a vacuum valve including a body and an electrically grounded surface on at least a surface of the body and an electrode extending substantially parallel to the electrically grounded surface and adjacent to the vacuum valve. The vacuum valve assembly also includes a barrier dielectric, a least a portion of which is located between the electrode and the electrically grounded surface. The vacuum valve assembly further includes a dielectric barrier discharge structure formed from the electrically grounded surface, the electrode, and the barrier dielectric. The dielectric barrier discharge structure is adapted to generate a plasma on the electrically grounded surface to clean at least a portion of the vacuum valve.