Printer Maintenance: Safe Cleaning, Printhead Care and Storage

1What this lesson covers

This lesson gives you a simple printer maintenance routine you can follow at home or in a small office. You’ll learn safe cleaning for the outside, the paper path and the scanner glass; how to use the nozzle check, printhead cleaning and alignment tools on inkjets where your model provides them; and how to store paper, ink and toner so they’re ready when you need them. Nothing here needs tools or opening the printer beyond its normal doors and trays.

2Before you start

Look up your model’s maintenance section in the manual or on the manufacturer’s support site. It lists the cleaning steps the manufacturer approves and the maintenance tools built into your printer.

Gather a soft, lint-free cloth. Use it dry, or very lightly dampened with plain water. Avoid sprays, solvents, alcohol and household cleaners unless the manual specifically says they’re safe.

3Clean the outside, paper path and scanner

1. Wipe the outside. Dust the case and output tray with the cloth. You should see: no dust around paper slots and vents.
2. Clean the scanner glass and lid. Wipe the glass and the white underside of the lid. If you have a document feeder, wipe the narrow glass strip it reads through.
3. Check the paper tray. Remove the paper, shake out dust or scraps, and look for torn pieces. Reload with a neat stack.
4. Clean the paper pickup area only if the manual describes it. Some manuals show how to wipe the feed rollers (the rubber wheels that pull paper in) with a lightly dampened cloth. Do this only where your model’s instructions say it’s safe.
5. Plug in and switch on. You should see: the printer start normally.

4Keep an inkjet’s printhead healthy

1. Print something every week or two. A single color page keeps the nozzles from drying.
2. Print a nozzle check when quality slips. Find Nozzle check, Print quality report or similar in the printer’s maintenance menu or software. You should see: a pattern of lines in each color. Gaps or missing lines mean blocked nozzles.
3. Run one printhead cleaning cycle if the pattern has gaps. Choose Head cleaning or Clean printhead from the same menu. Cleaning uses some ink, so run it only when the check shows a problem.
4. Check again after cleaning. If gaps remain, let the printer sit for a while (the manual may suggest a time), then repeat once.
5. Run alignment if lines are jagged or text looks doubled. Choose Alignment or Align printhead and follow the prompts.

5Store paper and supplies properly

• Paper: keep it flat, sealed in its packet, in a dry place. Damp or curled paper causes jams and smudges.
• Ink cartridges and bottles: keep sealed until use, upright if the packaging says so, away from heat and sunlight. Note the use-by date.
• Toner: keep sealed, lying flat, in a cool, dry place.
• Everything: out of reach of children and pets.

6Check that it worked

Print a nozzle check (inkjets) or a test page (lasers). You should see: complete patterns and clean, even text with no streaks. Make a note of the date, and repeat the routine every month or two, or whenever print quality slips.

7Troubleshooting

• The nozzle check still has gaps after two cleanings. Rest the printer, print a check again later, and see improve print quality.
• Pages still jam after cleaning. Check the paper type and how the tray is loaded. See how to fix a paper jam.
• Maintenance options are missing on your computer. They may be on the printer’s control panel instead, or need the manufacturer’s software.
• A message says a maintenance part or ink pad needs service. This needs the manufacturer’s support; it’s not a user repair.

8When to get more help

Contact the manufacturer’s support or a qualified technician if the printer shows a maintenance or service-required message, ink leaks inside the printer, cleaning cycles don’t help, or you notice burning smells, smoke or damaged cables. Switch off and unplug right away in those last cases.

9FAQ

How often should I clean my printer?

A quick dust and glass wipe every month or two is plenty for most homes. Run printhead tools only when a nozzle check shows a problem.

Can I take the printhead out to clean it?

Only if your manual describes it as a user-removable part. Many printheads are fixed inside the printer and shouldn’t be removed.

Do laser printers need printhead cleaning?

No. Laser printers don’t have inkjet nozzles. Their care is mainly keeping dust out, using suitable paper and replacing toner and drums when prompted.

Is it bad to leave a printer switched off for months?

Inkjets can dry out if unused for a long time. If you’ll be away, check the manual’s advice on storage; printing a page now and then helps.