Clofarabine and Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Minimal Residual Disease

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of AML by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria * Persistence of MRD by flow cytometry (phenotypic blast population detectable at \>= 0.1% by flow cytometry despite \< 5% blasts by morphology) after initial induction and one to four cycles of cytarabine containing consolidation chemotherapy * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0-2 * Serum creatinine =\< 1.0 mg/dL; if serum creatinine \> 1.0 mg/dL, then the estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) must be \> 60 mL/min/1.73m\^2 as calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation, as reported by University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) laboratory system * Serum bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * Aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transaminase (ALT) =\< 2.5 x ULN * Alkaline phosphatase =\< 2.5 x ULN * Capable of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of the study, and able to provide valid informed consent * Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to enrollment * Male and female patients must use an effective contraceptive method during the study and for a minimum of 6 months after study treatment Exclusion Criteria: * Current concomitant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy other than as specified in the protocol * Use of investigational agents within 30 days or any anticancer therapy within 2 weeks before study entry, with exceptions for oral agents such as FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) Inhibitors or hydroxyurea which will be discontinued prior to the investigational drug regimen; intrathecal treatment within two weeks will also be allowed but not permitted to be given concurrently with investigational regimen * The patient must have recovered from all acute non-hematological toxicities from any previous therapy * Have any other severe concurrent disease, or have a history of serious organ dysfunction or disease involving the heart, kidney, liver, or other organ system that may place the patient at undue risk to undergo treatment * Patients with a systemic fungal, bacterial, viral, or other infection not controlled (defined as exhibiting ongoing signs/symptoms related to the infection and without improvement, despite appropriate antibiotics or other treatment) * Pregnant or lactating patients * Any significant concurrent illness, condition, or psychiatric disorder that would compromise patient safety or compliance, interfere with consent, study participation, follow up, or interpretation of study results * Have had a diagnosis of another malignancy, unless the patient has been disease free for at least 3 years following the completion of curative intent therapy including the following: * Patients with treated non-melanoma skin cancer, in situ carcinoma, or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, regardless of the disease-free duration, are eligible for this study if definitive treatment for the condition has been completed * Patients with organ-confined prostate cancer with no evidence of recurrent or progressive disease based on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values are also eligible for this study if hormonal therapy has been initiated or a radical prostatectomy has been performed * Prior allogeneic stem cell transplant * Prior treatment with clofarabine