If your printed output seems wavy or slanted or of poor quality, you might need to clean your inkjet or laser printer. Inkjet printers, in particular, are notorious for developing clogged nozzles that ruin printed output. This usually happens when the printer isn't used for extended periods of time; ink dries inside the pinpoint-sized nozzles and restricts the flow of ink. Fortunately, the print head and nozzles on most printers can be cleaned.
Check your printer's user manual for any instructions or warnings about cleaning the printer. Cleaning procedures can vary greatly from one printer to another.
RUN THE AUTOMATIC CLEANING PROGRAM
- Most inkjet printers have an automatic cleaning program that keeps ink flowing freely through the nozzles on the print head. Some inkjet printers have a separate software program that runs this function, while others run it from the printer's Properties screen.
Open your printer's Properties screen and look for a tab labeled Maintenance, Services, or something similar. If you can't find it, look under Printer Preferences on the General tab. Figure 1 shows the Device Services screen for an HP DeskJet 5740 printer.
Run the cleaning program as many times as needed. You may need to cycle it four or five times to clean badly clogged nozzles. Make sure to print one or two pages in between each cycle.
MANUALLY CLEAN THE PRINT HEAD
Some manufacturers warn against manual cleaning because it may damage the printer, but on many low-cost printers replacing a clogged print head can cost as much as buying a new printer. So what have you got to lose?
- Power down the printer and unplug it.
- Some printers include the print head as part of the replaceable ink cartridge, which means you can get a new set of clean nozzles anytime just by replacing the cartridge. On other printers the print head is a permanent part of the printer assembly, and gaining access to the nozzles may require some disassembly. Check your printer's user manual.
Clean the nozzles with a lint-free swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol. You may need to let the nozzles soak a bit to loosen dried ink.
Take care to not get any alcohol on the inner workings of your printer; it can damage permanent printer components.
CLEAN YOUR LASER PRINTER
Loose bits of paper and debris can cause paper jams and poor print quality in a laser printer. Here's how to clean your laser printer:
Power down the printer and unplug it.
Laser printers operate at a very high temperature. Never open or touch the inside of a laser printer without unplugging the printer and waiting a few minutes for it to cool down.
- Check your laser printer's user manual for any special instructions or warnings about cleaning the printer.
- Remove the toner cartridge and store it in a paper bag.
- Remove any bits of paper or other debris that may be blocking the paper path through the printer. Tweezers and a can of compressed air are very useful for this. Wipe accumulated toner from any interior surfaces.
