How To Clean Your Printer

No matter if you are college student, casual home user, small business, or large business working on a project or everyday printing, few things can be as frustrating as seeing your print job marred by faded areas or streaks when you see your finished product. Here are some tips to keep your printer quality high and your frustrations low.

• Printer type - Brand name aside, there are certain things germane to any basic printer. Cleaning a larger printer is slightly different, but not dramatically so.


• Everyday printers - The majority of the time to keep a basic, everyday printer clean it simply needs to be wiped down on a regular basis. The only tricky part of this is match up the proper types of cleaning supplies to your printer. Do not try and clean your printer with cleaners not meant for a it. Basically, avoid products that contain alcohol and other harsh products. One option is to use something like a baby wipe or a lightly damp towel that will not leave fibers behind. Never let water get into contact with the inside of a printer, no matter what the make or model.


• Cleaning process - Before you do any actual cleaning, it is very important to make sure that the printer is unplugged. The first step is to open the front of the printer and wipe it down making sure to check for and clean any dust, paper scraps or ink buildup. Once that is done, remove your ink cartridges and clean off any excess ink. If your printer is seldom used, it would also be a good idea to clean your print heads. Most often the software that came with your printer will have a function for cleaning them.


• Cleaning larger machines - To properly clean these machines, it is best to use a static-free vacuum with a motor unit that can be kept away from the printer. This is to ensure that no static shock is given off. The two seasons during which your printer is more at risk are winter, because the air is dry, and spring because of the pollen in the air.