Laser Printers

• 1). Shut the printer down and remove the power cord from the back. Open the toner compartment door and remove the toner cartridge. This door is typically located either at the front of the printer or on the right side, but consult your owner's manual for the exact location.
  
  
• 2). Vacuum the interior of the printer with a small vacuum cleaner like the kind used to clean computer components. You can also use a small handheld vac with a crevice attachment. Vacuum the interior thoroughly to remove all paper dust and ink residue.
  
  
• 3). Wipe the interior of the printer with a soft cloth to remove any remaining residue. Examine the toner cartridge carefully before putting it back in the printer. Wipe away any toner dust, then check the cartridge thoroughly for leaks. Replace the cartridge right away if it appears to be leaking.
  
  
• 4). Replace the fuser cartridge if the ink rubs off the page easily. To replace the fuser cartridge, first locate the fuser door using your owner's manual. Most printers place the fuser either on the left hand side of the printer or in the back.
  
  
• 5). Flip down the small retaining clips that hold the fuser in place, then grasp the fuser by the handle and pull it straight out of the printer. The fuser gets quite hot, so never touch the cartridge itself. Slide the new fuser cartridge into the printer and flip the clips up to lock it into place.
  
  

Inkjet Printers

• 1). Turn your printer on and lift the top cover. Wait for the print cartridges to move to the middle. Never attempt to move the print head by hand.
  
  
• 2). Tilt the cartridges forward and lift them out of the printer. Turn the cartridge over so that the metal plate is facing you.
  
  
• 3). Dip a cotton swab in some warm water and carefully clean the metal plate on the cartridge to remove any paper dust and ink residue. Continue swabbing the cartridge until the cotton swab comes away clean. For heavily soiled cartridges, you might need to use isopropyl alcohol instead of warm water.
  
  
• 4). Wipe all of the accessible areas inside the printer with a soft cloth to remove any ink residue and paper dust. Replace the cartridges when you are done and close the printer.