Cleaning Your Printer

Printer maintenance varies so widely from one printer to another that I recommend referring to the manual that came with your printer. In some cases, for example, cleaning the print heads means wiping them off with a damp, lint-free cloth; other printers may have a control panel option for cleaning the print heads, and if you touch the print head, you void the warranty.

If you don't have the printer manual, you can usually visit the manufacturer's website and obtain an electronic version of the manual. If no manual is available, search the website for general instructions on printer cleaning and maintenance, or try to find a manual for a similar make and model.

Remember Toner used in laser printers can be hazardous to your health. Using compressed air to blow toner out of the printer or a standard vacuum cleaner to suck it out can launch a lot of toner dust into the air. You can buy a special toner vacuum, but they're fairly expensive. You're better off hiring out the job to someone who has the right equipment and experience.

Even with these variables, there are a few things the average user can do to keep the printer in peak condition and ensure high-quality output.

When turning off the printer, always use the power button on the printer or press the Online button to take the printer offline (don't use the power button on your power strip). This ensures that the print head is moved to its rest position. On inkjet printers, this prevents the print head from drying out.

Avoid touching the print heads unless the manufacturer or a tech support person tells you specifically to do so.

If the ink starts to streak on your printouts (or you have frequent paper jams in a laser printer), see if your printer has an option for cleaning the print heads. If it doesn't, get special printer-cleaner paper from an office supply store and follow the instructions to run the sheet through your printer a few times.

Using a damp cotton cloth, wipe paper dust and any ink off the paper feed rollers. Do not use alcohol. Do not use a paper towel; fibers from the paper towel could stick to the wheels.