Just like most machines or appliances in your office or your home, your ID card printer cleaning is one of the most important parts of keeping your printer running optimally and efficiently. If you take the time and the resources to invest in a quality ID card printer, it only makes sense that you take the time to clean it on a regular basis. 
Why Clean Your Printer Regularly?
Most ID card printer manufacturers recommend cleaning your printer each time you change the ribbon. By following this type of routine, you can greatly reduce the chances of tiny debris or contaminates within the system from damaging internal components like the printhead (replacing a printhead for most direct-to-card printers is costly!).
About the most important thing to remember is this: always use genuine supplies from the printer manufacturer that are specifically engineered for your printer model. Using the proper printer cleaning materials is an often overlooked yet an absolutely critical part of maintaining your ID card printer. Think of card printer maintenance this way: The same as using the proper oil for your car, using the proper cleaning kit for your printer is essential to the printer's overall health, production capability, and longevity.
What's Included in a Printer Cleaning Kit? Most ID card printer cleaning kits include:
- printhead cleaning swabs
- cleaning pens
- cleaning pads
- cleaning cards
When using the cleaning kit specified in your ID card printer owner’s manual, you can be assured that the cleaning cards are designed to fit your printer precisely. You can also be confident that any cleaning solutions used are intended for your printer model and won’t harm sensitive mechanisms or sensors. Keep this in mind when you are prompted to clean your printer, typically, each time that you change the printer ribbon.
Regular maintenance will keep your printer operating at its highest level. It will also ultimately extend the life of your printer and keep its warranty healthy too.
If you’re ready to clean your ID card printer, find the manufacturer specified cleaning kit for your printer on our printer supplies and cleaning kits page. If you have additional questions about keeping your ID card printer clean, simply call one of our knowledgeable ID Professionals at (800) 321-4405 today!