Tis the season – No, not the holiday season, but Cold and Flu, along with COVID. Many hands touch your office copiers, printers, and keyboards, so the touchscreens and operation panels should be cleaned and sterilized! Can I use a Clorox wipe on my multifunction printer surfaces, or will that cause more harm than good? This is a question we hear often.

The short answer is – yeah, but! Cleaning your copier can be easy, but there are some things you need to be aware of, so we answered common questions below.

How often should I clean my copier and printer?

How often is your copier or printer used, and how many people come in contact with it? If they get a lot of traffic, you may want to wipe them down each time you use them. Cleaning after each use is fine as long as it’s done correctly. At the very least, it should be cleaned at the beginning or end of each day.

What should I use to clean my copier and printer?

The good news is that most anti-bacterial sprays can be used on a soft cloth to clean the device’s operating panels, touchscreens, case, and drawers. Only clean the exterior touch surfaces when cleaning and disinfecting equipment.

What shouldn’t use?

Never use abrasives or chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, acetone, peroxide, or other cleaning agents on equipment, as these can damage the finish and electrical components. Also, do not use an alcohol/water mixture stronger than 70% isopropyl alcohol.

“Never use abrasives or chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, acetone, peroxide…”

Should I spray directly onto the machine?

Never spray cleaning solutions directly on your equipment. A lightly moistened, lint-free, or microfiber cleaning cloth should gently clean your copier and printer. Any scrubbing with a cloth should not be needed if you use the proper cleaning solution. Always avoid paper towels or tissues as they are often rough and could damage or scratch the surface of the device.

If you have any other questions or need your copier serviced, don’t hesitate to contact your Stone’s representative.

Check out this How to video

How to clean my office equipment

What about other devices in my office?

Think about everything that you touch each day in your workplace. Here are some suggestions for just a few of these items. We contacted the experts and asked them about best practices for cleaning. Here’s what they said.

Telephone

• Turn off or unplug the telephone.
• The best way to clean your office phone is to use a Q-tip or cotton swab in rubbing alcohol.
• Swab the areas around the phone receiver, the keypad, and the mouthpiece. 
• Spray a microfiber cloth with a disinfectant and wipe down the entire phone a few times to be safe.

Computer Keyboard

• Turn off and unplug the keyboard and mouse.
• Remove any large debris, such as crumbs or dirt, between the keys or around the mouse using a small brush or toothbrush.
• Dampen a cloth or cotton swabs with a small amount of rubbing alcohol or a mild soap and water solution or a Disinfectant
• Be sure not to use too much liquid, as this could seep into the device and cause damage.
• Wipe down the keys and the exterior of the keyboard and mouse.
• Allow the keyboard and mouse to dry completely before plugging them back in and turning them on.
• It’s a good idea to clean your keyboard and mouse regularly, especially if multiple People are using them, to keep them in good working condition and prevent Germs and the build-up of dirt and grime.

Content Sources

CodeBlue Technology – IT Support Website

Richmond Telecom Website

Tachlock Video Website