Recommended Cleaning Schedule

Routine preventive maintenance is a crucial part of normal printer operation. By taking good care of your printer, you can minimize the potential problems that you might have with it and help to achieve and to maintain your standards for print quality.

Specific cleaning procedures are provided on the following pages. This table shows the recommended cleaning schedule. These intervals are intended as guidelines only. You may have to clean more often, depending on your application and media.

Avoid possible personal injury or damage to the printer.

Never insert any pointed or sharp objects into the printer.

Always turn off the printer before performing any cleaning procedures.

Use care when working near the tear bars, as the edges are very sharp.

The printhead can get very hot after prolonged printing. Allow it to cool off before attempting any cleaning procedures.

Only use a Zebra cleaning pen (not supplied with the printer) or a cotton swab with 90% medical-grade alcohol for cleaning the printhead.

Use only cleaning agents specified in the following tables. Zebra is not responsible for damage caused by the use of cleaning fluids on this printer.

Area	Method	Interval
Printhead	Use a Zebra cleaning pen to swab the thin gray line on the printhead, cleaning the print elements from the center to the outside edges of the printhead.	After every five rolls of media (or more often, if needed). When using linerless type media, cleaning is required after every roll of media.
Platen Surface (Linered)	Rotate the platen roller and clean it thoroughly with a fiber-free swab or lint-free, clean, damp cloth lightly moistened with medical-grade alcohol (90% pure or better).	After every five rolls of media (or more often, if needed)
Platen Surface (Linerless)	Rotate the platen roller and clean with a fiber-free swab and 1 part liquid soap and 25 parts water. Use pure water to clean after soap/water mixture.	Clean the platen only if there is an issue during printing; for example, the media does not release from the platen (see the note below the table).
Scraper (Linerless Units Only)	Use the adhesive side of the media to clean the scraper on linerless units.	After every five rolls of media (or more often, if needed).
Tear Bar	Clean thoroughly with 90% medical-grade alcohol and a cotton swab.	As needed
Printer Exterior	Water-dampened cloth or 90% medical-grade alcohol wipe.	As needed
Printer Interior	Gently brush out the printer. Ensure the Bar Sensor and Gap Sensor windows are free of dust.	As needed
Interior of units with Linerless Platens	Clean thoroughly with 90% medical-grade alcohol and a fiber-free swab.	After every five rolls of media (or more often, if needed).

This is an emergency procedure only to remove foreign contaminates (oils, dirt) from the platen that can damage the printhead or other printer components. This procedure will shorten or even exhaust the linerless platen’s useable life. If the linerless media continues to jam after cleaning and feeding 1–2 m (3–5 ft.) of media, replace the platen.