How to Clean a Laser Printer

Last Updated: June 6, 2022

Electronics collect dust over time. Laser printers are especially prone to dust and debris. Because laser printers use toner cartridges, the mechanisms can become clogged up when ink toner accumulates in tight areas. Cleaning a laser printer can restore the machine to its original operability. Use these steps to properly clean your printer.

1

Turn off and unplug the printer.

Leave the printer unplugged for at least 1 hour prior to cleaning. This gives the parts time to cool down, and helps prevent electrical shocks.

2

Open the printer.

Review your owner's manual to determine how the printer should be opened. Some printers have latches; some open on a hinge; and others might require a screwdriver.

3

Remove all detachable components from the printer.

To properly clean the printer, you'll want to remove all parts that can be removed. The removable parts will vary depending on your model.
- Find and lift out the all-in-one toner cartridge if your laser printer is newer and relatively inexpensive.
- Take out the imaging drum. It is usually a bright green or blue color. Grab each side of the drum; do not touch the surface of the drum. Carefully lift out the imaging drum and place it in an area with no light.

4

Clean the toner cartridge.

Wipe the toner cartridge or bottle with an activated toner cloth. Toner cloth is specially designed to attract and catch toner particles that other cloths would leave behind.
- Rest the cartridge on another toner cloth.

5

Vacuum the toner out of the chassis.

Position a toner vacuum into the printer chassis. Move the vacuum nozzle around slowly, lingering for at least 3 seconds for each crevice. This sucks out any spilled toner you see in the interior.

6

Clean the hard-to-reach nooks.

Use a clean paintbrush to reach tight areas. Scrub the corners gently to loosen any built-up toner. Vacuum out the debris the paintbrush loosens.

7

Clean the corona wires.

You'll want to use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol, and then:
- Find the exposed fine wires inside the printer. They are usually near the paper rollers. Their purpose is to attract toner by transferring a static charge to the paper.
- Rub the swab across the wires, twisting the swab when one side becomes soiled.

8

Remove dust from the internal fan.

It's best to do this with a can of compressed air. Spray compressed air in short quick bursts near the internal fan from several inches away.

9

Wash the paper feed roller.

Remove toner that has gathered on the roller. You can do this by pouring rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and scrubbing the roller in a circular motion.

10

Disinfect the exterior

Use a micro-fiber cloth and rubbing alcohol to clean the outer parts. This gives the external surface a nice clean look.

11

Replace the inner components.

Allow any parts that are damp to fully dry before replacing the parts. Once you've reassembled your nice-and-clean printer, you can turn it back on and start printing.

Community Q&A

Question

What should I never do when working on a laser printer?

Community Answer

Expose the drum to sunlight or bright florescent lighting. The drum is light-sensitive and can be damaged by this type of light. Also, keep your hands off the drum, oils from your hands will damage the drum as well.
Question

What are the tools required to clean a laser jet printer?

Community Answer

Swab sticks (you can find them online and they are usually very cheap, try searching for ECO SOLVENT SWABS, they work wonderfully), rubbing alcohol, activated toner cloth, vacuum cleaner and a clean paint brush with soft bristles are needed.

Warnings

Always wear a face mask and gloves when performing maintenance on your laser printer.

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Do not apply pressure to the corona wires when scrubbing them of excess toner. A gentle scrub is enough to remove toner.

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Do not touch the fuser-roller of a printer that has recently been used. The fuser-roller gets hot when printing and can burn you.

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Do not spray liquids directly onto the exterior or interior of your laser printer.

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Do not allow the toner vacuum to touch any internal components of the printer.

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Do not perform maintenance on your laser printer that might void your manufacturer's warranty.

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