Best practices for cleaning your RICOH Multifunction Printer (MFP)

As many people often share a multifunction printer, it should be cleaned, and its surfaces sterilized. Touchscreens and operation panels get dirty – it just happens. Fortunately, cleaning your device is simple. This article will answer the most common questions. If you have other questions, please contact us.

What can I use to clean my MFP?

You can use most types of anti-bacterial sprays and wipes like Lysol® or Windex® on a cloth to clean our touchscreens, operations panels, and devices.

What should I avoid?

You should avoid any cleaners that use bleach, ammonia, or other harsh cleaning solvents. Harsh cleaners can harm the touch screen, causing it to become cloudy and, in time, eventually require replacement.

Can I use a spray bottle?

Do not spray a liquid directly on a touchscreen or on internal device components as this could cause damage to the device.

Instead, spray cleaning solutions on a soft cloth. Lightly moisten your cloth and then gently wipe down the surface. You don’t need to scrub hard. A good cleaner will deliver the antibacterial cleaning you want.

If using a spray bottle, we recommend using a lint-free microfiber cloth. This protects the surface of the touchscreen. Avoid using paper towels as they may scratch the surface.

The best way to clean your RICOH multifunction printer

According to the CDC, antibacterial wipes and cleaners need to sit on the surface, damp, for 3-5 minutes to kill germs. As a result and to maximize disinfection, you may want to clean your device during a low use time. Of course, more frequently cleaning is fine and can be done after each use, if needed.

If the surface dries faster than the 3 to 5-minute timeframe, you may need to wipe the surface multiple times to ensure maximum cleaning.

While the surface should be damp, it’s important not to have it wet. If you can see liquid droplets, it’s probably a little too much. Wipe it clean to collect the excess. Give it a minute or two and then wipe it again.

The same cleaners can be used on all exterior surfaces. Do not clean the inside of the device with cleaners. If your device needs service, please schedule a service call and one of our representatives can clean the interior.

Of course, you can also use your MFP, without touching the screen...

cleaning wipes

The RICOH Smart Device Connector (available on the App Store and Google Play) is free and allows you to: 

• Copy
• Print
• Scan
• Fax

In fact, you can retrieve prints without ever touching the device.

The Smart Device Connector also allows you to specify your copy, fax, and scan settings. Choose the number of copies; B&W or color; single or double-sided printing. Save your settings to speed the completion of future jobs.

You can find the RICOH Smart Device Connector on the App Store and on Google Play. Oh, and did we mention - it’s FREE?

Source:  RICOH USA