HP LaserJet 1018, 1020 Plus printers - Cleaning the printer

During the printing process, media, toner, and dust particles can accumulate inside HP LaserJet 1018, 1018s, 1020, and 1020 Plus printers.

Over time, this buildup can cause print quality problems, such as toner specks or smearing, and paper jams. To correct and prevent these types of problems, you can clean the toner cartridge area, pickup roller, and the printer media path.

Follow the instructions to clean the different parts of the printer.

Cleaning the outside of the printer

Clean the outside of the product with a clean, damp cloth when necessary.

CAUTION:

Do not use ammonia-based cleaners on or around the product.

Cleaning the toner cartridge area and pickup roller

Follow these steps to clean the toner cartridge area and pickup roller. Dirt or grime buildup on the pickup roller can cause the paper to feed into the printer incorrectly or not at all. Cleaning this area can improve the quality of printouts.

1. Turn the printer off and disconnect the power cord.

   

2. Wait for the product to cool down.

3. Open the toner cartridge door, and then remove the toner cartridge.

   CAUTION:

   Cover the toner cartridge with a sheet of paper to prevent damage caused by exposure to direct light.

   

4. With a dry, lint-free cloth, wipe any residue from the media path area and the toner cartridge cavity.

   

5. Find the pickup roller.

   

6. Release the small, white tabs on either side of the pickup roller, and then rotate the pickup roller toward the front of the product.

   

7. Gently pull the pickup roller up, and then out.

   

8. Dab a lint-free cloth in rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol), and then scrub the pickup roller.

   Warning:

   Rubbing alcohol is flammable. Keep the rubbing alcohol and cloth away from any open flame or heat source. Before you close the product, allow the rubbing alcohol to dry completely.

   Note:

   Air pollution control regulations in certain areas of California restrict the use of isopropyl alcohol. In those areas, use a dry, lint-free cloth, or a cloth moistened with water.

   

9. Using a dry, lint-free cloth, wipe the pickup roller to remove loosened dirt.

   

10. Allow the pickup roller to dry completely before you reinstall it in the product.

11. Position the pickup roller in the slot. The circular and rectangular slots on each side prevent incorrect installation of the roller.

    

12. Rotate the top of the pickup roller away from you until both sides snap into place.

    

13. Reinstall the toner cartridge, and then close the toner cartridge door.

    

14. Reconnect the power cord and turn the printer on.

Cleaning the printer media path

If you see toner specks or dots on printouts, use the cleaning utility to remove media and toner particles on the fuser assembly and rollers. Cleaning the media path extends the life of the printer.

1. Make sure that the printer is idle and the ready light is on.

2. Load a transparency into the input tray. If you do not have a transparency, load copier-grade paper, 70 to 90 g/m2 (18 to 24 lb), with a smooth surface.

3. From the application you are printing from, click File, then Print, and then click Options, Printer Setup, or Preferences, or open the Paper Type/Quality or Media & Quality menu.

4. Click the Configure tab.

5. In the Cleaning Page section, click Start.

6. Click OK to begin the cleaning.

Note:

The cleaning process takes approximately 3 minutes. The cleaning page stops periodically during the cleaning process. Do not turn the printer off until the cleaning process has finished. You might need to repeat the cleaning process several times to clean the printer thoroughly.

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