Toner is an extremely fine powder and in substantial concentration can cause irritation to the respiratory tract which can result in coughing and wheezing. Place a paper mask or scarf over your nose and mouth while dealing with the spill.
- It is better to vacuum it up and thereby remove all dust particles from the vicinity, as opposed to brushing it which could cause a dust cloud and further spreading of the particles.
- Any remaining toner powder should be wiped away with a cloth, made damp with a little bit of cold water.
- Hot water should preferably not be used because it may cause the toner to melt a little and become sticky.
- You can throw the toner away in a regular bin, but it is advisable to place it in a sealed bag which can contain the powder to avoid further mess
- Use an abrasive sponge together with cold water to remove toner that has bonded to the skin.
I made a right mess of changing my toner cartridge yesterday. My old one was leaking so it was time for a replacement and I tried to clean up with a regular brush broom which just transferred the mess all over the room instead of containing it to one spot. Originally, I didn’t vacuum as I was scared it might damage the vacuum cleaner but once I read these tips I did as you said and the whole lot was cleared up in a minute. Thanks!
Interesting. I had the opposite experience. Tried the vacuum first but it did a bad job of suctioning all those tiny particles so I resorted to the good ol’ broom which cleaned up in no time!
However you can find toner manufacturers who specialize in making refill kits for branded toner cartridge. All you need is to find a compatible refill kit and you are ready to start refilling the cartridge. Refilling doesn’t require any specialized skill but if you are not sure you can handle it then you can take it to some online toner refilling store. Some companies even refill the empty cartridges via post.