How to Clean Your Printer (Rollers, Exterior, and Scanner Glass)

Cleaning the paper feed rollers

Turn the printer off and unplug it. Locate the rollers (usually visible when the paper tray is removed or the rear access panel is open — check your manual for the exact location on your model). Dampen a lint-free cloth with a small amount of water — not so much that it drips — and gently wipe the rollers while rotating them by hand. Paper dust and residue that builds up here reduces grip and is a common, overlooked cause of recurring paper jams and misfeeds. Let everything dry fully before powering back on.

Cleaning the scanner glass

Open the scanner lid and wipe the glass surface with a soft, lint-free cloth — a microfiber cloth works well. For fingerprints or smudges, lightly dampen the cloth with water or a small amount of glass cleaner applied to the cloth itself (never spray directly onto the glass, since liquid can seep into the scanner mechanism). Dust or streaks on this glass translate directly into streaks or spots on every scan, which is easy to mistake for a scanner hardware problem when it's really just a cleaning issue.

Cleaning the exterior and control panel

Wipe down the outer casing and control panel with a slightly damp, soft cloth. For a touchscreen specifically, use a dry microfiber cloth to avoid moisture getting into the display edges, and avoid any harsh or abrasive cleaners on the screen. Regular light dusting also helps prevent dust from working its way into vents and internal components over time.

What to avoid

Never use alcohol, ammonia-based cleaners, or abrasive materials on the scanner glass or exterior — these can damage coatings and, on some surfaces, cause clouding that's not reversible. Never spray liquid directly onto any part of the printer — always dampen a cloth first and apply that instead, to avoid liquid seeping into internal electronics. Don't clean the print head or nozzles manually as part of general cleaning unless you're specifically following a dedicated print-head cleaning process — that's a different, more sensitive procedure covered separately.

How often to clean

Wiping the scanner glass and exterior every few weeks (or whenever you notice dust or a smudge) is reasonable for most home use. Roller cleaning is worth doing if you notice recurring paper jams or misfeeds, or roughly every few months for printers used heavily — it's a preventive step more than a fixed schedule.