Office printers and printing supplies are generally shared among an entire team, so your habits can impact coworkers. Fortunately, a few simple steps can allow everyone to efficiently print the documents they need. Here are some etiquette tips to consider before printing. 

Do: 

Refill paper, ink, and toner. 

Each document you print requires paper, ink, and toner. If you use the last of any of these, the next person who prints will be inconvenienced when their copies don’t show up in the tray. The printer should alert you when the paper tray or ink and toner cartridges are low or empty, so refill the necessary printing supplies for the next person once you’re done. 

Grab copies right away. 

Most office printers allow you to send documents via Wifi or an internal network. Once you print something from your computer, head right to the printer and grab the copies so they don’t sit in the tray for hours. This could lead to confusion or force coworkers to sift through a paper pile to find their own pages. 

Don’t:

Leave paper jams. 

A jammed paper tray prevents any new documents from coming through the printer. If your documents get stuck, try to pull the page out and straighten the rest of the papers in the paper tray. Alternatively, call tech support for help with the device instead of leaving it for your coworkers to address later. 

Print unnecessary copies. 

Printing requires resources, including paper and ink, so your company pays more the more its employees print. Excessive waste is also bad for the environment. Don’t hesitate to print important documents for client meetings or essential tasks, but think twice before printing an extra copy of an email you could simply pull up on your mobile device to check later.

If you’re looking for printers or printing supplies for your office, contact Laser Line in Jessup, MD. Since 1989, this company has offered devices, supplies, and repair services for an array of printers to residents of Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and northern Virginia. They also provide managed printing and IT services for those looking for offsite support. Visit the website for a full selection of options, or call (410) 636-1700 for a consultation. You can also follow them on Facebook for more tips.