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.

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Remove all detachable components from the printer.

  1. 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.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What should I never do when working on a laser printer?
    Community Answer
    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
    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.
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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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Things You'll Need

  • Laser printer
  • Toner vacuum
  • Clean paintbrush
  • 2 toner cloths
  • Cotton swabs
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Micro-fiber cloth
  • Face mask
  • Latex gloves


About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 140,460 times.
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Co-authors: 5
Updated: June 6, 2022
Views: 140,460
Categories: Printers
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