How To Clean and Maintain a Flatbed Scanner

Don't you hate it when things go wrong in the most crucial times? It is funny how printers regularly jam during crunch time or when fax machines go loopy when you're waiting for a specific document for a business meeting, or when you can't digitize your notes when you need to make a presentation because your scanner died. Wise men say, prevention is the best cure. So let's talk about how we can avoid the above mentioned scenarios, specifically the scanner mishap.

Before you start, make sure that the scanner is not plugged into your computer or any electrical sockets. That means disconnect any power or USB cables. Next, set your scanner on a stable and flat surface to ensure that it does not fall while you work on it.

Cleaning

Now that the scanner is ready to be cleaned, start with the scanner glass. Spray a mild glass cleaner on a soft, lint-free cloth and start wiping. Do not spray directly the glass cleaner onto the glass. If you do not have glass cleaner, do not use water as a replacement! Instead, wipe it with lint-free cloth.

Next, remove the AFD pad and look at it from the side. Focus on the rubber tip of the pad, if it looks worn then it is time to replace the pad. You can use the same cloth used to wipe the glass for the AFD as well as the shell of the scanner.

How often should you clean your scanner? It depends on how often it is used and what kind of environment your scanner is in. If the scanner is used regularly, you should clean it twice a week. If you have noticed, things like dust, hair, and fingerprints affect the quality of the images that are scanned. Make sure you remove those particles or clean the glass regularly because if these deposits are ignored it may take more than simple cleaning to fix.

Article from http://www.howtodothings.com