If you've grabbed one of the best laser printers for home offices, or you happen to manage a laser printer, you may be wondering how to clean a laser printer drum. We will help you.
The printer drum is one of the most critical components of a laser printer. If you clean it often, it will last much longer and keep your print quality high & smudge-free. Therefore, knowing how to clean your drum is crucial if you want to avoid wasting paper and keep your printer running smoothly.
In this article, we’ll show you how to clean a laser printer drum and the best ways to keep your printer in working order. Keep reading!
How to Clean a Laser Printer Drum?
The first thing you should know about your printer is that it’s going to get dirty. No matter how good you are at taking care of your printer, it’s inevitable that over time your printer will need to be cleaned. That's why we have created this quick guide to help you clean your printer's drum.
To clean the printer drum safely and effectively, you will need the following items: a dust mask, protective gloves, a toner cloth (or a microfiber cloth), and an isopropyl alcohol solution.
You can find a number of cleaning kits that fit the bill, like this one from CamKix. Once you've got something like this to hand, then you can move on to the next step below.
Turn off the printer
The first step is to turn off your laser printer, then unplug the power cord and disconnect it from your computer. Now, wait for it to cool down. In the meantime, put on your mask and gloves.
Lay down newspaper on a flat, level surface to set printer parts that could cause toner stains. This is going to be your workspace.
Take out the drum
Next, open the printer case and carefully take out the toner cartridge and set it on the workspace. The drum is often built into the toner cartridge, but sometimes it's a separate unit.
Locate the drum of your printer and safely remove it from the chassis. Take extreme care while handling the drum. The surface of the drum must never be touched with fingers. If you have no idea how to remove it, check the owner’s manual or visit the manufacturer’s website.
Clean the printer drum
Once you have removed your drum, hold it by the gear at the end and wipe down the exterior of the drum with the toner/microfiber cloth. This will remove the dust, debris and loose toner powder on the drum. Now, moisten the cloth with isopropyl alcohol and gently wipe the drum to get rid of persistent patches of toner stuck to it.
Next, clean the interior of your printer. Go over here to find out how to clean it safely. In the meantime, store the clean drum in a dark place because it is light sensitive and can be damaged when exposed to light.
Put the drum back in its place
When your printer is squeaky clean and dry, place the drum inside the chassis along with other parts that you have removed.
That's it! Your printer is now ready to print again. Always remember, a clean printer drum will keep your printing going smoothly and reliably.
Read More:Inkjet vs Laser Printer: Which Is Best?
What Can I Use To Clean Printer Drum?
As mentioned in the previous section, you will need a toner/microfiber cloth and an isopropyl alcohol solution to clean your printer drum. Also, a mask and a pair of gloves for your safety. Because, if inhaled, powdered toner could cause irritation.
The most popular method to clean your printer drum is to use a toner cloth. The microfiber cloth is also great because it’s gentle on the surface of the drum. Additionally, it is not abrasive and does not damage the surface of the drum.
The isopropyl solution is a solvent that evaporates quickly, leaving no residue. Also, it is great for dissolving grease and oils. The solution will get rid of the persistent toner patches on the drum and it look like new.