What Do I Need to Clean My Large Format Printer?

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What Cleaning Supplies Are Required for My Printer Maintenance?

What cleaning supplies do I need to clean my large format printer? When you rely on your printer for your business, maintaining your large format printer in good working conditions with regular maintenance is key. You absolutely need to have the right tools for a successful completion of the task. It is essential that you use the tools that are specifically designed for your printer maintenance. Many printer components are extremely sensitive to contaminants such as dust, dirt or other chemical residues. In this article, we have compiled a list of the most commonly used cleaning supplies that you should always have on hand:  

 

1/ Gloves

The most important properties to consider when choosing a disposable glove are the barrier protection, finishing and thickness.

• Avoid any direct interaction with chemicals such as ink and cleaning solvents. For your protection, we strongly recommend nitrile gloves when performing your printer maintenance. Contrary to popular belief, latex is permeable to chemicals such as cleaning solutions or ink and they penetrate instantly. You can find a lot of information in regards in the chemical resistance chart.
• Another important feature of surface treatment is the grip level. Surface chlorination and coating/finishing are the most common surface treatments. The surface tack of a glove determines its grip. It is regulated by the degree of chlorination and the coatings used by the manufacturer.
• The thickness of glove material is therefore very important. Disposable gloves are normally between 0,12 and 0,45 mm thick. Lower-gauge gloves (between 0,12 and 0,20 mm) enhance dexterity, versatility, and touch sensitivity. Higher-gauge gloves (between 0,38 and 0,45 mm) are more rugged but less flexible.

 

2/ Industrial Wipes

To clean the print heads and other sensitive materials and areas of the printer, use a polyester, lint-free Industrial wipes. These wipes are cleanroom laundered to ensure the best quality. These industrial wipes are highly absorbent, long-lasting, and resistant to abrasion from rough surfaces and burs. Of course – besides the print head wipes – we also recommend using industrial paper towels for general use. Choose a soft, highly absorbent paper that is suitable for grease and liquids.  

 

3/ Cleaning Swabs

Cleaning Swabs are a must-have for your printer maintenance. You need to use these foam-tipped swabs in order to clean the hard-to-reach areas of your printer. In addition, it extends the life of your printer components. Remember to use lint-free and solvent-resistant swabs.

 

4/ Cleaning Solution

The cleaning solution is used to break up and dissolve dried ink residues that have accumulated on your printer components such as the print head, capping, wiper. Depending on the type of ink used by your printer, the solution can be either detergent based or contain more corrosive compounds (isopropyl alcohol, aqueous ammonia). You always have to use a solution suitable for the type of ink used. If you have any doubt, feel free to contact our experts. But regardless of the ink type, the cleaning solution will flow through the print head nozzles in order to flush out the ink particles.  

 

5/ Eye Protection

Last but not least. You have to keep in mind that you are working with hazardous materials and you are not immune to splashing. You need to remember to wear safety goggles lenses to prevent any injury.   Now that you are fully equipped with your cleaning supplies, check out the video tutorials:

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