Very few people take care of their printers. Everyone is concerned about the computer screen, the keyboard, and just about everything else, except for the printer. The only time most people give their printer a second thought is when it breaks or needs to be replaced.

For the most part, printer problems are avoidable with proper care and maintenance. Read this handy guide in order to know everything there is to know about keeping your printer in tip-top shape. Proper care for inkjet and laser printers is slightly different, and for obvious reasons. Let's take a quick look at each.

How to keep your Inkjet printer happy:

1. Make sure your printer drivers are up-to-date: A printer driver is the application that allows your computer tocommunicate with your printer. It's also what lets you change your printer settings, such as paper size or print quality, for any given print job. Printer drivers are your secret weapon against diminishing print quality over the life of your printer.

Question: How do I find/update my printer drivers?
Answer: Simple. If your printer came with an installation CD, loading that into your PC and following the instructions should give you the printer drivers. If you're looking to update your printer driver, you can usually find the most current version of your printer's driver software on the support page of the printer manufacturer's website, along with installation instructions.

2. Keep it clean on the inside: When printouts become faint or certain colours fail to print, it's time to test whether the print heads are working properly, and you'll do this by running a nozzle check (and later a print head clean) – a nozzle check is done by printing a test pattern to demonstrate which (if any) ink cartridge is clogged and needs attention. Keeping your print heads in good working order is essential for print quality when it comes to using an inkjet.

Important to know: Print head cleaning and nozzle checks use a fair amount of ink, so only do it when necessary.

Question: How do I perform a nozzle check? 
Answer: Like so - Click Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Right click the printer icon > Select Printing Preference > Maintenance > Nozzle Check > Print.

• If the nozzle pattern is perfect: click Finish
• If the nozzle pattern is not perfect: click Clean.

QUICK MAC TIP: In any program that prints, select File > Page Setup > Utilities > Test Print > Nozzle Test.

Question: What's head cleaning and how do I do it?
Answer: Head cleaning is needed when the nozzle test pattern results are not perfect and you'll need to do this when you've used your printer excessively, or you've replaced or refilled the cartridges.
Under the same Printer Maintenance window you accessed when performing a nozzle check, simply select the 'Head Cleaning' option, then click Start. You'll want to print a nozzle test pattern once you're done cleaning, just to check the inkflow.

3. Only use genuine consumables for your printer: ma cheaper option to buy generics or to refill using the as-seen-on-TV injection kits, this will probably cost you more in the long run, as this ink is of lower quality, is more likely to clog the printheads, which will eventually lead to irreparable damage.

If you're looking to save on consumables, most manufacturers produce an XL version of their ink cartridges, which works out to be much more cost effective. Combine this with some smart print practices (only print best quality when you need it most) and you're more likely to save this way. There are alsorecycle programmes that offer you a discount on your ink cartridge purchase, if you hand in your old ones for recycling.

Question: What do I need to know when buying consumables for my Inkjet?
Answer: Only the printer brand and model number, so write this information down to  make it easier for you when you get to the store.

How to love your laser printer:

Laser printers are generally lower maintenance than inkjet printers, but even they need some TLC from time to time, so don't forget to make the following tips and tricks a part of your office maintenance routine.

1. Make sure your printer drivers are up-to-date: Drivers hold an important key to smooth functioning of the printer, so it's recommended that you check the manufacturer's website regularly for updates and install them as and when they are released.

2. Clean your printer regularly: The frequency of this task depends on the environmen it is used in - in an office environment, it is bound to be cleaner than when placed at home. Cleaning not only refers to the inside, but also the outside. Use appropriate cleaning material for cleaning the interior parts (never ammonia) and be very careful. You might want to refer to the manual for instructions, but for most printers you can remove the toner cartridge and use a lint-free cloth to wipe down the inside and the toner cavity.

Question: How should I clean the inside of my laser printer?
Answer: Once you've unplugged the printer and it's cooled down, you need to remove paper trays and open the printer to remove the toner cartridge. Place the cartridge on some newspaper and be careful not to tip or shake it, as this may cause a leak. Clean the inside of the printer with a dry lint-free cloth and use a dry paintbrush for those hard-to-reach places and then clean the rollers with a slightly damp cloth to remove dirt buildup.