| Cleaning a laser printer, fax, or copier of laser | | | | printers. |
| toner can | | | | The printer swabs come with six-inch-long |
| be easy, provided you know what you're doing | | | | sticks.Isopropyl alcohol: |
| and use the | | | | Do not use regular rubbing alcohol. Either use |
| right tools. This article will share with you some | | | | chemicals |
| simple | | | | that are specifically designed to clean the heads |
| tips to help you clean your laser printers of laser | | | | of VCRs, |
| toner | | | | cassette tapes, tape drives, and the like or use |
| like a pro.A word to the wise: Before I begin, I'd | | | | 99 percent |
| like to stress that | | | | pure isopropyl alcohol, which evaporates without |
| this article is intended only to assist you with | | | | leaving any |
| basic | | | | residue.Paint brush (soft bristle, about a half-inch |
| cleaning of the laser toner from your laser | | | | wide): |
| printer. If | | | | This is used to brush out toner from tight |
| you're unsure of your ability to perform any sort | | | | crevices. Since |
| of printer | | | | bristles may fall out during the cleaning process, |
| maintenance, or if performing such maintenance | | | | pull out |
| will void the | | | | any loose ones before you use the brush. I don't |
| printer's warranty, you should contact a qualified | | | | recommend |
| service | | | | using toothbrushes.Latex gloves (optional): |
| professional.Some safety issues: Though laser | | | | These must fit tightly on your hands since you |
| printers come in various | | | | want to |
| shapes and sizes, they all use laser toner (that | | | | maintain skin sensitivity. Drugstores usually sell |
| messy black | | | | them in |
| powder). While cleaning your laser printer, the last | | | | boxes of 100. This is to keep your hands clean |
| thing | | | | but if you |
| you want is to have laser toner in your lungs or | | | | don't have them you can just wash up with soap |
| on your | | | | and water |
| skin. The tips provided in this article should help | | | | afterwards.Okay, let's begin cleaning that laser |
| reduce | | | | printer of the laser |
| the chance of you being bathed in laser toner | | | | toner. Now that you have the tools, it's time to |
| while cleaning | | | | unplug the |
| your printer.Laser toner particles are so fine that | | | | laser printer, let it sit for one hour, and then |
| they | | | | follow the |
| can take more than fifteen minutes to settle if | | | | steps below:1. Put on your mask and latex gloves |
| they become | | | | if you have them.2. Open the printer and gently |
| airborne make that hours if you have fans or air- | | | | remove the laser toner |
| conditioners circulating them through an office. To | | | | cartridge or laser toner bottle.3. Use your wash |
| avoid | | | | cloth and wipe the laser toner cartridge. |
| inhaling laser toner particles, try to keep the air in | | | | Place the laser toner cartridge aside.4. Use your |
| the | | | | vacuum to remove spilled laser toner from within |
| cleaning area stable and leave the printer area | | | | the printer's internal compartment. Try to |
| for several | | | | prevent the |
| minutes after cleaning. When you return, move | | | | vacuum's nozzle from actually touching any of |
| slowly, open | | | | the printer's |
| all windows, and begin vacuuming any laser toner | | | | internal surfaces.5. Use your paintbrush to |
| from the | | | | remove laser toner from any |
| floor, tabletops, and so forth.Another dangerous | | | | crevices. Use gentle motions and vacuum as |
| area common to all laser printers is the | | | | necessary.6. Many laser printers use very fine |
| fuser-roller compartment. The fuser roller gets | | | | wires (called 'corona |
| extremely | | | | wires') that are often exposed. If your printer |
| hot during the printing process and is usually | | | | has such |
| covered for | | | | wires, take care to avoid vacuuming or brushing |
| safety. Burns can occur, however, if you | | | | them. |
| accidentally | | | | Breaking a corona wire can be a costly mistake. |
| uncover and touch the roller. I recommend that | | | | Dip a cotton |
| you leave | | | | swab into isopropyl alcohol and gently run it along |
| your printer off for at least one hour before | | | | the |
| cleaning it of | | | | length of the wire. Also be sure to clean the |
| laser toner.As with all electrical equipment, make | | | | underside of |
| sure that the power | | | | the wires. Never apply pressure.7.Reinsert the |
| cable is unplugged before you begin any | | | | laser toner cartridge, close the printer, |
| work.Here are the basic tools you need to clean | | | | reconnect the power cord, and you are |
| the laser toner | | | | done.Avoid using the wash cloth inside the printer. |
| from the laser printer: | | | | Though you |
| -Vacuum | | | | can use the wash cloth to clean the inside, I do |
| -Compressed can of air | | | | not |
| -Wash cloth | | | | recommend it. There are many sharp points that |
| -Mask | | | | can tear the |
| -Cotton Swabs | | | | cloth's fiber and leave loose strands inside the |
| -Isopropyl Alcohol (99 percent pure) | | | | printer.OEM vs. Remanufactured Laser Toner |
| -Paint Brush (soft bristle, about a half-inch wide) | | | | Cartridges Although many |
| -Latex gloves (optional)Compressed air: | | | | people buy OEM Name Brand laser toner |
| You can buy this in any department store or | | | | cartridges, little do |
| office supply store. Ranges in price from $3.00 to | | | | they know, they really are remanufactured! Can |
| $10.00 | | | | you believe |
| per 10 oz. bottle. Use adequate ventilation | | | | it? Seriously folks, why spend many more dollars |
| please.Mask: | | | | on OEM's |
| You'll want to prevent laser toner particles from | | | | when you can get THE SAME quality laser toner |
| entering your throat and lungs. While laser toner | | | | cartridges for |
| inhalation | | | | half or less than half the price? When you buy an |
| has not been proven to cause serious health | | | | OEM laser |
| problems, | | | | toner cartridge, just look at the box! It says |
| respiratory tract irritation can occur with | | | | "Made of new |
| exposure to | | | | and recycled materials". The OEM companies |
| large amounts of laser toner dust. Laser toner | | | | want you to send |
| can also | | | | your laser toner cartridge back to them , so |
| contain potentially hazardous compounds, such as | | | | they can |
| styrene, | | | | remanufacture it , and sell it back to you as new! |
| ethyl benzene, and xylene isomers. Use a mask | | | | Buying |
| that filters | | | | remanufactured laser toner cartridges saves the |
| both odors and fine particles, such as the ones | | | | environment. |
| used for | | | | Millions of laser toner cartridges get dumped in |
| painting and sanding. You can usually find these at | | | | landfills |
| local | | | | every year. So, please, save the |
| hardware stores.Cotton swabs: | | | | environment,and save your |
| You can use the regular cotton swabs found in | | | | money!Happy Cleaning!Rafael Nunez is responsible |
| your local | | | | for all product quality at Alchemy Toners, Inc. |
| drugstore or those made especially for cleaning | | | | |