How To Clean Your Heat Press Machine
A heat press machine can often be the heart of any custom t-shirt business. While many entrepreneurs, hobbyists, and business owners will know to maintain their machine, cleaning it might be something that they often forget.
For those of us who do know that we need to clean the machine, we can often worry that we’re not cleaning all of the right places. Because of how important it is to do so, cleaning is something you should pay particular attention to.
While many people may assume that cleaning a heat press machine might be as simple as wiping it. This isn’t the case, as there are a few different areas that you should look after. Furthermore, there are a few tips and tricks you can follow to ensure that it’s properly cleaned and well maintained.
By doing so, your heat press machine should last as long as possible and still create high-quality custom t-shirts.
Tips For Cleaning A Heat Press Machine
There are a variety of different things that can ensure that you’re cleaning your heat press printing machine effectively. The majority of us will want to make sure that our machine lasts a long time. Proper maintenance is a significant part of this, with cleaning also being notable. Problems can develop pretty quickly when there’s dirt in your machine. As such, it can be vital to clean it regularly.
While much of this can vary depending on how often you use your machine, you should give it a thorough clean at least once a week. Preventing a mess from occurring can also play a vital role in keeping your heat press machine clean. One of the easiest ways to do so is by using screen-printed transfers with release paper.
This can act as a measure that prevents messes from occurring in the first place. This can be something that saves you a considerable amount of time in the long-term, as you may only have to give your machine a quick clean after use.
Guide To Cleaning Your Heat Press Machine
While tips and tricks for cleaning a heat press machine can be helpful, you’ll need to know which areas of the machine you should focus on. This will ensure that dirt or other materials don’t affect your t-shirts when they’re printed.
Furthermore, they’ll prevent many issues from developing over time. However, it should be noted that there are different steps to consider depending on whether you’re using a Teflon coated machine or non-Teflon coated heat press machine.
Teflon Coated Heat Press Machines
Teflon coating ensures that the likes of dyes, inks, and other fabrics don’t stick to your upper platen. There can be a host of different benefits to this. However, it also means that you’ll need to take particular care when cleaning it.
With how fragile the non-stick coating can be, it can be vital to ensure that you don’t use any abrasive products when you clean it. This is because it can end up leaving scratches on the coating. Outside of this, there are a few simple steps to follow:
- You should first ensure that your heat press machine is unplugged and cold. If you’ve used it recently, then you should allow it to cool down.
- You should mix your non-abrasive cleaner with warm water. Cleaning supplies can also be used, although you’ll need to ensure that these are properly cleaned off once you’ve finished cleaning.
- You should mix your non-abrasive cleaner with warm water. Cleaning supplies can also be used, although you’ll need to ensure that these are properly cleaned off once you’ve finished cleaning.
- Drip your cleaner and then use it to clean your heat press machine. This may be a simple process, although you should ensure that you remove any pieces of dirt that may be stuck to the machine. Depending on your cleaning supplies, however, these may be easy to get rid of.
Occasionally, the above process may not work and get rid of each of the stains or dirt that may be on your machine. However, there is another way you can do so that may be more effective. That being said, this is best done after you’ve already tried the above process.
- Plug in your machine and let it heat up.
- Put heat protection on your hand and begin cleaning the machine with a non-abrasive cleaner and soapy water
- Unplug the machine and allow it to cool down.
- Wipe away any residue that may be left over from the soap.
- Once cooled, dry your heat press machine with a towel.
By using the methods above, you should be able to ensure that your heat press machine is properly cleaned and ready to be used.
Non-Teflon Coated Heat Press Machines
In contrast to a Teflon coated heat press machine, these need a somewhat different approach to clean. One of the most notable differences is that, not only are you allowed to use an abrasive cleaner, but many people encourage its use.
Outside of this, the cleaning process is surprisingly similar. This is primarily because the process of cleaning a heat press machine can be similar no matter the type. By following each of the steps we outlined above and switching your cleaner to an abrasive one, you’ll be able to ensure that your heat press machine is cleaned effectively.
Keeping your heat press machine well-maintained is essential to ensuring that it runs properly for as long as possible. Cleaning can often be an essential part of this. Not only does the process have long-term benefits for your machine, but there are a few different short-term benefits.
This is primarily on show by keeping your printed t-shirts high-quality while ensuring that there are no unwanted stains or dirt attached to the fabric.
