Whenever print quality deteriorates, the printer needs to be cleaned. Regardless of the style of printer the first step is to find the printer manual, printed or electronic copy. Gather some basic supplies, including: small vacuum, lint-free cloth, acid brush, cotton swabs and balls, and 99-proof isopropyl alcohol. Unplug the printer and open the main panel. Without reaching inside, read any labels or instructions that are affixed to the interior side of the panel door. Take a mental note of the inside of the printer so you know how each part is to be replaced when finished. Let’s see methods to clean Laser Printer and Inkjet Printer one-by-one.

Inkjet Printers

Most inkjet printers are sealed with the exception of the paper tray(s) and the ink cartridge compartment. Paper dust and dried ink will be the two cleaning challenges encountered.

1. Remove the paper tray completely:

Take out all the paper and vacuum all paper dust from the paper tray. Gently vacuum the visible areas of the paper port in the printer. Vacuum any paper dust that has fallen around the printer.

2. Remove the ink cartridges and set them on a lint-free cloth:

Use some alcohol on a cotton ball to gently wipe the opening where the ink comes out of the cartridge. The alcohol will evaporate quickly so multiple passes over the opening should gather some ink into the cotton.

3. Check for dried ink:

Look into the printer compartment and inspect the sides and bottom for dried drops of ink. Use a cotton ball or swab to remove any ink.

4. Use alcohol to clean the heads:

Place three drops of alcohol into the ink reservoir to clean the heads and tubes. A test page can be printed to run the alcohol through the printer to finish the cleaning process. Some print cartridges have the print heads attached so replacing the print cartridges will install a new print head.

5. Reassemble the printer and print a test page:

Two or three pages may be required until the ink flow is restored. If one of the print wells remains clogged for any reason, remove the one print cartridge and drop three more drops of alcohol into the reservoir. Print another test page.

Laser Printers

Laser printers differ greatly from inkjet printers because they use a dry toner powder and electrically charged wires to print on a page of paper. The internal construction of a laser printer is fragile and can be tricky to maneuver if instructions are not followed very carefully. Refer to the diagrams inside the printer and remove the parts in order. To clean a laser printer wear and mask and gloves to protect eyes and hands from the dry toner powder.

1. Clean with lint-free cloth:

Remove the printer cartridge and wipe the exterior with a lint-free cloth without touching the roller that is coated with toner. Set the cartridge to the side on a cloth without inverting the cartridge.

2. Check for removable components:

Look closely for any other removable components and take them out gently without using any force. Look for unlocking levers that will release the component from its housing. With all the components out of the printer, look inside and gently vacuum where you can see.

3. Clean with cotton:

Use a cotton swab saturated with alcohol to gently clean the print wire. This is a very fragile wire and the tiniest amount of pressure will break the wire and result in a costly repair bill. Use a steady hand to run swab the length of the wire.

4. Hoover:

Remove the paper tray and vacuum the paper port to remove any paper particles. Remove the paper from the tray and vacuum away any visible dust. Vacuum the area in front of the printer and then replace the paper and then the tray.

5. Remove components in reverse:

Follow the diagrams to replace each removed component in reverse order. Adjust the angle of the component to achieve a smooth replacement motion without applying force. Remember to replace locking levers to allow each component to be replaced in order. Finally replace the printer cartridge. Print a test page to check for print quality.

Most printers have an automated cleaning function that can be run at preset intervals. If print quality deteriorates more than every 90 days, the automatic print function should be run more often. Ink and toner are consumed when the printer runs through a cleaning routine, so consider the need for running those routines when setting the interval. Age affects print quality after extensive use. Sometimes the only solution to print quality issues is to replace the printer.

Image Credit : Svetlana*Bekyarova

About Author : Guest author Tom is a full time writer with Cartridge Save. He writes reviews about printer cartridges and PhotoSmart ink cartridges in Great Britain.