aka 3M Scotch Brite pad

When it comes to taking care of your roll
laminator, there is really only one thing to concern yourself with. But
you should repeat it like a mantra every time you use, look at, or even
think about your laminating machine. Are you ready? Here goes: Keep the
rollers clean.

No, you don't need to clean the rollers every time you use the machine,
(a good rule of thumb is about four times a year) but the more you
think about doing so, the more often it will get done, and the longer
your machine will last. This is especially important to keep in mind
for large organizations such as schools and churches and in any
situation where the machine will see heavy use from many different
users of varying levels of experience.

There is no hard and fast rule as to how often the rollers should be
cleaned, but it is important to note that the longer you wait, the
harder the adhesive becomes, and the more difficult it is to remove.
Also important to keep in mind is that you should never, ever, use
sharp objects like Exact-o knives or any other kind of blade to scrape
the rollers clean. The rollers are made of softer rubber like material
and any sort of cut or ding will lead to even more future problems.

Here are some simple steps to keeping the rollers of your laminating machine clean:

1. Make sure that there isn't any film in the machine. In
   fact, you might use that as a good excuse to clean the rollers every
   time you change the film.
2. Heat the machine as
   if for normal operation. This will help soften the adhesive so that it
   can be removed more easily. Just please be careful not to burn yourself
   while you are working on the machine.
3. When the
   machine is warmed up, use a green scrubbie (aka 3M Scotch Brite pad) to
   scrub the rollers. Set the machine so the rollers are moving as slowly
   as possible. Never, ever use steel wool or SOS pads or anything of the
   sort, as these can lead to damage. Be patient, take your time and make
   sure that you are getting all the adhesive off the rollers.
4. 
   When the cleaning process is finished, go ahead and install some new
   rolls and remember to make sure that the feed table is engaged.

There
are some ways to help prevent problems with your rollers, and for a
heavy use machine it might be a good idea to make a sign (and laminate
it) to place near the machine that says the following:

1. Do
   not attempt to laminate anything that is made of metal or contains
   glitter. The glitter gets stuck in the rollers and can ruin the
   machine.
2. Do not attempt to laminate heavier
   items such as wooden objects or coins. We know of one school who ruined
   their laminator attempting to laminate 3D collages containing sticks.

We
hope that by following these rules and by keeping your rollers clean,
you can enjoy many years of use from your roll laminating machine.