Proper Care and Maintenance of Printers

Inkjet printers might just look like compact boxes to you but they contain sophisticated pieces of hardware that require proper care and maintenance. To get consistent print quality, longer print life and quality paper feed, you need to pay attention to your printer’s needs. Here are a few essential tips:

Deep Cleaning

If your printer stays dormant for a long period of time, you may end up with a clogged printer head. A clogged printer head cannot spray ink through the jets and may reduce the quality of color. Luckily for you, most printers have an inbuilt cleaning function. For Canon inkjet printers, you can run a deep clean. Deep clean your canon printer by following these easy steps:

• On your desktop, click on “Start” and then click on “Devices and Printers”
• Right click on the Canon printer option
• Click on “Properties”
• On the “Maintenance” tab click on “Deep Cleaning”

People who use Epson printers can clean the print head using the inbuilt “Head Cleaning” utility inside the printer’s software. Epson users are recommended to follow the instructions in the software.

Remove Dust and Debris

Have you ever noticed irregular and unwanted streaks of ink on your printing paper? If yes, there is nothing wrong with your printer. You just have to give it a good clean. Dust and debris can build up inside your toner and cause jam as well as irregular streaks of ink on paper. Depending on the type of printer you use and the brand, a quick way to get rid of tiny unwanted particles is to use a small vacuum.

You can also use canned air dusters but it might just move around the dust particles inside your printer instead of actually removing them. Most notable printer brands, such as Canon and Epson, offer specific instructions on how to maintain your printer. You can find these instructions online or in the printer manual. Some people even resort to using a cotton swab dipped in clean water to remove dust from ink cartridges. However, it is important you follow the manufacturer’s instructions as some parts of the cartridges are sensitive and should not be swabbed.

Invest in a Maintenance Kit

If you intend on extending the life of your printer, it is advisable that you spend a few extra bucks on a maintenance kit. Different manufactures offer different maintenance kits. These kits include a variety of items, such as changeable printer parts, like rollers, which tend to get worn out and cause printer jams.

Do Your Research

With a little extra knowledge you can prevent printing errors and avoid paper jams. Learn more about your printer by visiting the manufacturer’s website or going through the user manual. Using your printer correctly will prolong its useful life and will also help you run your printer more smoothly.

These are some tips you can follow to ensure effective care and maintenance of your printer. Following these will ensure you make the most of your printer and get the best value for money.