Why Is My Printer Printing Black Lines?

We've all been there. You're in a hurry and need to make a copy of something, quickly. You set your number of copies and hit the start button only to receive 20 copies of a document littered with black streaks.

Have you ever wondered why this happens, or more importantly, how to fix it? The solution is simple and can be solved by anyone in the office if you know how to clean copier glass, properly.

What creates streaks on copier glass?

Cleaning the document cover and glass on a routine basis is important to providing the best quality possible for your images. Streaks on your print jobs are a result of your copier glass being dirty.

“Dirt” is created by fingerprints, dust, and other forms collected through usage. Often this will be detected by your device before streaks begin to appear, and a display will read that the glass needs to be cleaned.

How do I clean printer glass?

The process is relatively simple, but there are some precautions to consider:

1. Only use a light amount of warm water on a soft cloth. Too much water could damage the machine, so make sure the cloth has been properly rung out before using.
2. Do not use glass cleaners that contain a paint thinner (acetone), benzene, ammonia or other organic solvent, as they can damage the coating on the plastic parts of your copier (including the glass).
3. If dirt is challenging to remove, use a soft cloth to wipe the area with a light amount of neutral detergent. Do not press heavily on the glass, as this can crack or scratch the surface.

Pro Tip: Don't forget to clean the document cover (pictured above) utilizing the same process as the copier glass.

Keeping your scanner glass clean is a simple maintenance tip that can help you avoid copier maintenance costs and downtime. The value of doing so is seen in higher efficiency and a stress-free workday... at least from a copier standpoint.

Want to Learn More?

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