Summary

22 IT Essentials: PC Harware and Software Companion GuideDescribe Cleaning MethodsAlways follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when cleaning printers and scanners.Information on the manufacturer’s website or in the user manual explains the proper cleaningmethods.CautionRemember to unplug scanners and printers before cleaning to prevent danger from high voltage.Printer MaintenanceMake sure that you turn off and unplug any printer before performing printer maintenance.Use a damp cloth to wipe off any dirt, paper dust, and spilled ink on the exterior of thedevice.Print heads in an inkjet printer are replaced when the cartridges are replaced. However,sometimes print heads become clogged and require cleaning. Use the utility supplied by themanufacturer to clean the print heads. After you clean them, you should test them. Repeatthis process until the test shows a clean and uniform print.Printers have many moving parts. Over time, the parts collect dust, dirt, and other debris. Ifnot cleaned regularly, the printer might not work well, or could stop working. When workingwith dot matrix printers, clean the roller surfaces with a damp cloth. On inkjet printers,clean the paper-handling machinery with a damp cloth.CautionDo not touch the drum of a laser printer while cleaning. You can damage the surface of the drum.Laser printers do not usually require much maintenance unless they are in a dusty area orthey are very old. When cleaning a laser printer, use a specially designed vacuum cleaner topick up toner particles. Figure 14-13 shows a vacuum designed for electronic equipment. Astandard vacuum cleaner cannot hold the tiny particles of toner and can scatter them about.Use only a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filtration. HEPA filtration catches microscopic particleswithin the filters.Choosing the correct paper type for a printer helps the printer last longer and print moreefficiently. Several types of paper are available. Each type of paper is clearly labeled withthe type of printer for which it is intended. The manufacturer of the printer might also recommendthe best type of paper. Check the printer manual.Information about the brands and types of ink recommended by the manufacturer is alsofound in the manual. Using the wrong type of ink can cause the printer not to work or canreduce the print quality. To prevent ink leaks, do not refill ink cartridges.