A
Printer is an essential add-on to your Computers, however maintaining a printer
is an important part of its usage. So that, when you are required to print a
page, you don’t find your printer to be giving problem. Whether you own an
inkjet or laser printer, these simple tips enlisted below will help you
maintain your printer and printing
supplies.
1. Clean Print Head
It
is essential to clean print head at least once a month. Remove the cartridge
and clean the head with warm water. After cleaning, allow the print head to dry
completely before fixing it back.
2. Clean the Insides
You
must also clean the insides of the printer regularly. Use lint-free cloths, slightly
moist to wipe the dust away. You can also use compressed air blower to blow out
the dust that is accumulated in the printer.
3. Check under the Hood
You
must lift the hood and check inside for any jammed or broken parts. Most
printers have built-in diagnostics to indicate if there is any wear and tear.
Paying attention to these maintenance lights at the right time and taking
corrective action can prevent further damage.
4. Choose the right Cartridge
Cartridges
are expensive and hence you are tempted to buy cheap, duplicate cartridges.
However, never compromise on the quality of your Toner / Ink Cartridges. Go for
Original and Branded Cartridges, as duplicate or Low quality cartridges will
have an impact on the printer hardware. Substandard quality will also result in
poor printing.
5. Careful while you replace Cartridges
It
is likely that you replace cartridges regularly and hence read the instructions
carefully on how to replace cartridges. Be careful not to touch the bottom of
the cartridge while replacing as touching can spoil the quality of print.
6. Replace Cartridges before they dry up
Don’t
wait until your cartridges dry up completely. Printer software gives notifications
when cartridge levels are low. Take the message seriously and replace cartridge
before they dry out. A dry cartridge can lead to unwanted wear and tear on your
printer head.
7. Turn it off
Turn
off your printer if you are not using it for a long time. A printer that is
continuously on and not in use can also cause wear and tear to other parts.
Hence, it is best to turn it off when not in use.
8. Download the latest drivers
Some
printers indicate when a new driver is available at the manufacturer’s website,
do not ignore such notifications. Many hardware malfunctions with printers have
been traced back to outdated drivers.
9. Keep your printer manual safe
It
would be useful to refer to manual when one of the maintenance lights gets on and
you have no clue why the light is on. So, it’s advisable to keep the manual in
safe keeping or have a electronic version saved.
10. Use your printer regularly
Last
but not least, it is necessary to use your printer regularly. Nothing can stop
your cartridge from drying up when you don’t use your printer regularly.
We
hope the above mentioned printer maintenance tips can be of some use to you,
helping you get just that little more from your printer.
