Proper upkeep and maintenance of your laser printer will keep it working properly for many years. With a little bit of time, and these 4 tips, you can keep your laser printer printing as well as it did the day you took it out of its box.

Get in the habit of performing these tips on a monthly basis. You can also use them to correct printing problems such as streaking, gaps in printing, and toner smears.

Tip #1 – Clean the inside of your printer

Cleaning the inside of your laser printer is very important. Toner is just like dust and will build up over time. To clean the inside of your printer you should:

• Unplug the printer and let it sit for an hour to cool down. If you have  not used your laser printer within the last hour, unplug it and proceed to Step #2.
• Remove the paper trays.
• Open the printer and remove the toner cartridge. To avoid leaking toner, be careful not to shake or tip the cartridge. You should also place it on a piece of newspaper.
• Wipe/dust the interior of the printer with a dry lint free cloth or a clean/dry paint brush. The paint brush will allow you to remove toner from hard to reach areas.
• If your printer has them, wipe the corona wires with cotton swaps dipped in isopropyl alcohol. BE CAREFUL! If you break a wire it is going to be expensive to fix. The corona wire is a charged wire that draws toner off the drum onto the paper.
•  Wipe the rollers with a slightly damp cloth to remove any dust.

Tip #2 – Clean the outside of your printer

Keep the outside of your printer clean too. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the outside of the printer. If you ever spill toner on the exterior of your printer (when changing a cartridge) make sure to wipe it up immediately. It can stain.

Tip #3 – Use high quality toner cartridges and paper

You should always purchase quality toner cartridges for your laser printer. Some say you should only purchase OEM cartridges, while others say remanufactured/compatible toner cartridges are just as good. Which you use is up to you, but just make sure you buy your toner cartridges from a reputable vendor. If you do run in to any problems they will support the cartridge and, often, the printer. The same goes for the paper you use . . . Make sure it is quality. Low quality paper can cause paper jams, smeared prints, and increased toner dust inside your printer.

Tip #4 – Use laser cleaning sheets

Laser cleaning sheets are a great supplement to the above tips. These sheets run through your printer like piece of paper would. Their special surface allows them to pick up exess toner and dust as the rollers pull them through.

Happy Printing!