If you’ve spilt some toner from your cartridge don’t panic, it can easily be cleaned up. There are two crucial points to know before you get started:
- Toner is made of extremely small particles, smaller than 10 micrometers (that’s 0.001 millimetres) in diameter. As such, the particles of toner are easily suspended in air, and are too small for standard cleaning devices to clean as they can pass through a filter.
- Toner is designed to melt under heat (that’s how it works, it fuses to your page when you print). Avoid warmth or heat when cleaning at all times.
The best method of cleaning toner
For a large spill clean up most of the toner by gently sweeping it up with a dustpan and brush, disposing of it carefully in a properly lined bin.
Once you’ve got rid of the majority of the toner, wipe the remainder with a cold damp cloth (remember hot or warm water will cause the toner to fuse to the surface). Repeat this until the surface is clean.
Finally, when washing your hands remember to use cold water again… and soap.
An alternative method of cleaning toner
Some vacuum cleaners (notably Dyson machines) contain a powerful filtering system known as HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air), that is equipped to handle particles as small as toner. If your hoover does not indicate a HEPA standard you should not use this to clean up toner as the particles will pass through it and out into the air.
There have been reports that static between fast moving and already charged toner particles can ignite dust when confined in a small space, such as a hoover, so ideally use the method we’ve outlined above.
