Flatbed scanners provide accurate high-resolution image management for computer applications. Quality scans, however, are dependent on the clarity of the glass scanner bed and the cleanliness of the other components. Keeping a scanner clean is the most important maintenance step needed to get crisp, imperfection-free images.
Glass Scanner Bed
The surface on which you put a photo or document face-down is the scanning bed. This piece of clear glass allows the scanning head to travel underneath the image and get distortion-free reflections into the image-capture hardware. Clean the glass as if it were a large eyeglass lens with a soft cloth and glycerin-free glass cleaner.
Alcohol or ammonia glass cleaner may leave a streak- and film-free finish but remember to always leave the cover open after cleaning to ensure the glass dries thoroughly. Never spray any solution on the scanner. Spray it on the cleaning cloth first and then apply. Spraying directly onto the scanner may cause liquid to go places you don't want it to, such as control buttons and electrical connections. Of course, leaving the cover open may allow dust and particles in the air to settle on the glass, so close the cover as soon as the last trace of fluid is evaporated.
One other consideration is cleaning the underside of the scanner bed glass, inside the scanner. Before taking this step to remove the scanner bed glass to clean the underside, examine the glass carefully after cleaning the top. If you see no dust, dirt or specs, then avoid opening the scanner. While open, more dust and particles in the air can settle in the scanner. Only open the scanner when absolutely necessary.
Scanner Bed Cover
The scanner bed cover is what is opened and closed to insert and extract photos and other documents; scanners with document feeders do not necessarily need the cover opened to insert a document. Clean the scanner cover with a good quality house cleaner and, as with the glass scanner bed, never spray anything directly on the scanner. Spray the cleaning solution onto a cleaning cloth and then apply. Clean the document feeder carefully. If possible, remove the unit from the scanner cover, remove any safety covers from the document feeder and use a soft brush to remove any built up residue or paper dust. You can do this with the document feeder still attached to the scanner cover, but you may have to clean the scanner bed glass again as dust or dirt may fall through and into the copy scan area.
Tags: scanner cover, document feeder, scanner glass, after cleaning, cleaning cloth
