Learn When and How to Clean Your Printer Without the Use of Cotton Swabs

You likely know that cleaning your Mimaki, Mutoh or Roland printer is necessary. Not cleaning it properly will inevitably lead to your printhead dying far quicker than it should. Wide-format printers are expensive, so the last thing you want is to spend lots of money replacing parts when all it needed was a simple cleaning. The first step of proper cleaning is having the right supplies. Using the wrong supplies can make your printer dirtier than it was in the first place.

What Supplies Do You Need?

Swabs are one cleaning product you should always have on hand. Cotton swabs do not count. In fact, using cotton swabs to clean your printer does much more harm than good. Not only do they leave behind more residue than they pick up, but they also leave behind lint.

Our premium foam swabs are exactly what you need to get the job done right. They are free of lint and fiber, so you don’t have to worry about unwanted particles making their way into your printer. They are also both washable and reusable, which saves you money in the long run. They’re the perfect length to reach the printhead, cap tops, and wiper, all of which tend to get dirty fast. Premium foam swabs make cleaning your printer easier, all while prolonging the life of its parts.

You’ll also need a cleaning solution that’s safe on wide-format printers. Depending on what type of ink you use in your printer, you might need a specialized solution. Mimaki Mild Solvent Cleaning Liquid is a great choice for Mimaki solvent printers.

How Often Should You Clean Using Premium Swabs?

It obviously won’t hurt to clean your printer daily, but you might not always have the time. If you need a flexible cleaning plan, here are recommendations on when to clean each component:

• Wiper and Cap – You should clean the wiper and cap on your wide-format printer at least twice a week. Cleaning these parts is as simple as wiping them with cleaning swabs to pick up any excess ink. When you allow the ink to dry and gather on these parts, it can quickly lead to a messy buildup on the printhead.
• Printhead – Cleaning the printhead takes a little more time, so it’s OK to clean it once a week. To make sure you remove any possible buildup from the printhead, you need to clean the front of it, behind it, and the gap between the printhead and the ramps. You can also use our premium swabs along with a cleaning solution to clean the printhead.
• Flushing Box Insert – Don’t forget about the flushing box insert. The insert plays a vital role in keeping your printer clean by storing any excess ink and cleaning residue that falls in. To prevent overflow, replace the flushing box two times a month. If you realize you’re using your wide-format printer more than normal, it doesn’t hurt to change the flushing box more often. Not replacing the box insert can cause a clog that can be difficult to remove.

Learning the proper cleaning techniques for wide-format printers can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’re a first-time owner. If you take one thing from reading this blog post, it should be this: Stop using cotton swabs to clean your printer. That is one of the worst things you can do, especially since you want your printer to keep making quality prints for many years to come. Stock up on premium cleaning swabs now, so you can always have the best supplies on hand.