Until recently, you've probably never noticed how many times a day you press the "Start" button or the touchscreen on your office's printer, copier, or multifunction printer (MFP).
Multiply those touches by the number of employees who also use your office equipment during the course of a workday. Are you reaching for your hand sanitizer yet?
As organizations adapt their workplaces to minimize the risks surrounding coronavirus disease COVID-19, keeping your copiers, printers, and multifunction devices (MFDs) clean and sanitary is more important than ever for the health and safety of your employees.
Protect Your Employees and Your Office Equipment
While talking with customers and other businesses that are developing their plans for how to safely return to their offices, we've been hearing a common question: "How do I clean and disinfect my copiers and printers?"
We're glad you asked. We recommend regular cleaning of your devices to prevent the spread of viruses, but using the wrong cleaning solution or cleaning method can damage your office equipment. Protect your investment and your employees with these simple steps to properly sanitize the high-touch surfaces on your copiers, printers, and MFPs.
Steps to Clean and Disinfect Your Office Copiers, Printers, and MFPs
- Before cleaning, power off and unplug the device. Do not clean the device while it is powered on and plugged in.
- Use an alcohol-based cleaner with a minimum concentration of 60% alcohol or premanufactured disinfectant towelettes such as Lysol or Clorox wipes. Do not use cleaners containing ammonia, chlorine, or bleach.
- Use the cleaning solution to dampen a soft, clean, lint-free cloth such as a cotton or microfiber cloth. Do not spray liquids directly onto the device. Do not use abrasive or fibrous materials, such as paper towels.
- Gently wipe down exterior surfaces of the device with the cloth or towelette. Pay close attention to high-touch areas such as panels, lids, trays, and keyboards. Do not allow excess liquid to pool on the device or enter gaps around the control panel or buttons.
- Allow the surfaces of the device to air dry before plugging the device back in and powering on.
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds after disinfecting the device.
Proper cleaning practices are critical both to the longevity of your devices and to the well-being of your employees.
Reduce Contact through Mobile Printing
If you want to give your employees even more options for safely using office equipment to decrease the spread of viruses and increase social distancing within your workspaces, our print management team can help you identify and set up applications to enable mobile printing directly from your users' devices, without having to touch your MFP.
Prosource's business technology specialists are here to help you keep your office running smoothly and safely. Contact us today to learn more about maintaining your office equipment or enabling mobile print or other tactics to support your "return to work" plans.
