Is your printer giving you a hard time with the print quality or paper jams? If so, then maybe your printer is crying out for a proper cleanup.
Printers require cleaning from time to time for functioning smoothly and Laser printers are no exception here. So a proper cleanup can work wonders in these cases. Moreover, it can also help your device to perform at its best.But How to Clean Laser Printer?
This article will provide an in-detail step-by-step guide on How to Clean Laser Printer in 2023. So, stick here till the end.
Let’s start with most obvious question.
Do Laser Printers Need Cleaning?
They certainly do! Since Laser printers use toners for the printing process, the excess toner particles are bound to build up in the machine eventually.
So, if not cleaned for quite a while, these excess toner particles can cause a lot of problems including frequent paper jams, a notable decrease in print quality, and overall performance.
It is needless to say, learning how to clean a Laser printer properly can save you a lot of trouble in the long run. For instance, regular cleaning is important for:
- Lengthening your printer’s life.
- Ensuring the best possible print quality for a long time.
- Getting rid of paper jam issues.
- Maintaining the overall performance of the device.
Experts recommend cleaning your printer every 6 months or 300 hours of operation. That seems doable. Right? So let’s dive into the cleaning process of a Laser printer.
How to Clean Laser Printer Manually in 5 Easy Steps
Well, cleaning Laser printer manually can be a piece of cake if you are following the right steps.
In this case, a fair amount of practice and a little patience just might do the work. Moreover, it can save you a decent amount over time since you won’t have to visit a repair shop every now and then for cleanups.
Although the cleaning process of a Laser printer may vary depending on the model that you are using, still the basics will remain the same. So, here are the steps for this task:
Required Tools
- A clean piece of cloth.
- Cotton swabs.
- Compressed air.
- Rubbing alcohol.
- Latex gloves.
- Surgical mask.
Caution
The excess toner particles can cause mild irritation if you accidentally inhale them or touch them with bearskin. So, using a surgical mask and latex gloves through the process is highly recommended.
Step 1: Turn Off your Printer and Let it Cool Down
Firstly, turn off your device and unplug it from all power sources.
If you have used your printer recently then make sure you let it cool down naturally. Since a Laser printer can run quite hot during operation, allowing it to cool down first is essential.
Step 2: Remove and Clean the Toner Cartridges
Once your device is cooled down, you can open the front/back panel and remove the toner cartridge from it.
You should put aside the toner drum in a dark and dry place as it is a very sensitive component. Then take a clean piece of cloth and wipe out the excess toner from the toner cartridges. Put another piece of clean cloth under the toner cartridge while doing so.
Step 3: Clean off the Internal Components and Surfaces
Up next, clean off the excess toner from the internal components with the cloth. Be extremely careful while doing so as the internal components are very sensitive.
You can use cotton swabs for the tricky areas that are hard to reach. Make sure to clean the toner housing properly as excess toners are most likely to build up there.
When done, put a little rubbing alcohol on the piece of cloth and wipe off the internal components. Don’t hesitate to use a cotton swab or a tiny brush for the process if necessary.
Step 4: Blow out Excess Toners from the Corona Wire
This is where the compressed air comes in. Take out the corona wire carefully and blow out excess toner particles from it using compressed air. Be very careful while doing so as it is a sensitive and expensive component.
On the other hand, if you don’t have compressed air then save your worries. Just dip a cotton swab in the rubbing alcohol and gently clean the corona wire with it.
Again, be very cautious while doing so as you don’t wanna harm the component.
Step 5: Put back all the parts and Run a Print Test
When you are convinced that all the steps above are done properly, you can put back all the parts in their places. When done, turn on your printer and run a print test. If everything is done right, hopefully, you will see a notable improvement.
FAQ
So here are answers to some frequently asked questions by the consumers that might help you as well.
Do Laser Printers get Clogged?
Laser printers don’t have clogging issues like Inkjet printers as they don’t use any ink at all. But still, dust can pile up on the print head lens and cause some print quality issues.
Can I Use Rubbing Alcohol to Clean my Printer?
Yes, you can! Rubbing alcohol can come in handy in case of cleaning the internal surfaces of a Laser printer. Adding to that, rubbing alcohol is also a great companion for cleaning Inkjet printers since it can be useful for removing excess ink.
Do Laser Printers Dry Out?
No, they don’t. Laser printers use toner for the printing process instead of ink. As a result, they don’t cause any ink drying hassles at all. On top of that, the toners used in Laser printers don’t dry out even if left unused for a while.
How to Clean Toner Cartridge?
A toner cartridge of a Laser printer should be cleaned regularly for producing the best possible print quality. So here are the steps for cleaning a toner cartridge:
- Turn off your printer and let it cool down naturally.
- When the device is cooled down, remove the toner cartridge from it.
- Put aside the printer drum in a dry place where light can’t reach.
- Take a clean piece of cloth and put the cartridge on that.
- Now take another clean piece of cloth and wipe out all the excess toners with it.
- When done, reassemble all the parts and run a print test. Hopefully, you will notice a better outcome.
How to Clean Toner Cartridge Roller?
The Toner cartridge rollers are an important part of the printer that also needs cleaning. These components are responsible for sliding the papers through the printer. So cleaning them every once in a while can help you a lot with the paper jam issues.
So here are the steps to clean the toner cartridge roller:
- Switch off your printer.
- Remove the toner cartridge.
- Locate the rollers and wipe them with a clean lint-free cloth.
- Rotate the roller carefully as you go for cleaning the entire surface.
- When done, put back the toner cartridge and you are all set.
Final Thoughts
A little time and maintenance are all that is required to keep your printer in its best form. Moreover, regular cleaning can also result in prolonged service from your device.
So now that we have learned how to clean Laser printer in 2023, I hope it helps you as it helped many other consumers.
So that’s it for now. Have a great day!
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