How to Clean a Color Laser Printer

Conducting scheduled laser printer cleaning can make a major difference in the longevity and performance of your color laser printer. With regular intervals of printer cleaning, the print quality of each document is increased. The initial cost of a premium-quality color laser printer is still somewhat pricier than the ink-jet variety, so taking care of your investment is worthwhile. Quarterly dusting, roller and glass cleaning usually are sufficient.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Printer roller cleaning sheets
• Soft, clean and dry cotton cloths
• Disposable cleaning cloths made of natural material
• Printer glass-cleaning fluid or eyeglass cleaning wipes
• Disposable paper towels

1. Turn off and unplug the laser printer.

2. Remove each toner cartridge and use disposable paper towels to wipe up any excess toner spills collected near and around the rollers. Excess toner buildup in the printer can travel and clog other printer areas with dust. This can drastically affect the quality of your printed copies. Put the toners back in their respective positions and close the unit.

3. Plug the printer back in.

4. Clean the printer rollers with pretreated cleaning printing sheets. Available at most office supply stores, these sheets grab excess dirt and grime as they pass through the rollers. Place a sheet in the top printer tray and run through as if to make a copy. If you opt not to use cleaning sheets, wipe down each roller using disposable paper towels (with the printer unplugged).

5. Clean the glass with either eyeglass cleaning wipes or printer glass cleaning fluid made specifically for cleaning printing machine glass and a soft cotton cloth.

6. Clean the outside of the printer. Take a dry, clean cotton cloth or disposable cloth made of natural fibers and wipe the printer clean from top to bottom.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use cotton cloths or other natural-based materials to clean the outside of your laser printer. While the above steps are basic, view the properties of the color laser printer to learn the cleaning recommendations. The manufacturer has information on how to maintain its product for optimum performance.
• Avoid ammonia-based products since they can damage the inside and outside of your laser printer. Do not oversaturate the cleaning cloth with cleaning solution. Always place the cleaning solution onto the cloth instead of onto the surface of the printer.