11 Easy Steps to Clean a Laser Printer

An easy-to-follow guide on cleaning a laser printer

Co-authored by Blain Gunter

Last Updated: December 12, 2024

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.

Things You Should Know

Make sure the printer is off before you clean it and that it has had time to cool down.
Open the printer according to the manual. If you don't have the manual, you can find instructions for opening your printer by make and model online.
Use rubbing alcohol, a clean brush, cotton swabs, and microfiber cloths to clean your printer.

1

Turn off and unplug the printer.

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This gives the parts time to cool down and helps prevent electrical shocks.

2

Open the printer.

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Some printers have latches; some open on a hinge; and others might require a screwdriver.

3

Remove all detachable components from the printer.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Scrub the corners gently to loosen any built-up toner. Vacuum out the debris the paintbrush loosens.

7

Clean the corona wires.

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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.^{[1]
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- Rub the swab across the wires, twisting the swab when one side becomes soiled.

8

Remove dust from the internal fan.

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Spray compressed air in short quick bursts near the internal fan from several inches away.

9

Wash the paper feed roller.

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

10

Disinfect the exterior

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This gives the external surface a nice clean look.

11

Replace the inner components.

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Once you've reassembled your nice-and-clean printer, you can turn it back on and start printing.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What should I do if my printer is printing blurry images?

Blain Gunter
Computer Repair Specialist
Blain Gunter is a Computer Repair Specialist and small business owner based in Bakersfield, California. He was first introduced to computers at the age of five and has over twenty years of experience in his field. He is both an IT consultant and computer repair technician and takes pride in his ability to troubleshoot anything. He works with hardware, software, Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux, and even vintage electronics.

Blain Gunter

Computer Repair Specialist

Expert Answer

If your printer is generating blurry, choppy, or faded printouts, take action by cleaning the nozzles. Perform a nozzle check, initiate a nozzle clean, and consider aligning the nozzles. These steps often prove effective in resolving issues related to print quality. Regular maintenance tasks like nozzle cleaning and alignment contribute to ensuring optimal performance and print output from your printer.

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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.

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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.

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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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